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Taking Territory is an eye-opening account of why territorial conquest remains a phenomenon today. The end of World War II seemingly brought about a decline of territorial conquest. Many have argued that a strong territorial integrity norm in the postwar era explains this decline. Yet as Dan Altman shows, states have seized territory numerous times since 1945. Large-scale conquests have waned, but small, targeted seizures have persisted. The relationship between conquest and war has also shifted. While states attempting conquest before 1945 often initiated war, then sought to occupy large territories, challengers today more often seize small regions, then try to avoid war. This strategy, the fait accompli, has become the predominant mode of conquest. Drawing on his own original data consisting of 175 conquest attempts between 1918 and 2024, Altman explains why conquest persists, what motivates it, when it turns violent, and when it succeeds. He shows how miscalculated faits accomplis have sparked many post-1945 wars and why the motives behind many territorial grabs are often about image, domestic politics, and the ambitions of military officers. Incisive and illuminating, Taking Territory cuts against what we think we know about post-1945 conquest to reveal its true causes and consequences.

The unexpected impact of neighborhood design on civic engagementParticipation in official governmental institutions and activities has declined dramatically. Americans are less inclined to express trust in, or cooperate with, political leaders and each other to address society's most pressing problems. In Neighborhoods that Matter, Carrie LeVan explores this growing crisis in civic engagement, arguing that where we live –and the people who live around us– may be to blame. Drawing on national surveys, census data, and spatial analysis, LeVan demonstrates how neighborhood design can dramatically impact political participation, including people's desire and ability to vote in local, state, and national elections. She argues that the suburbs, which isolate residents, require driving, and are zoned for single-use, do not provide an effective infrastructure for civic engagement. However, cities, which are often designed to be walkable, more interactive, and are zoned for mixed-use, provide a supportive environment where people and politics can thrive. Ultimately, LeVan underscores how neighborhoods that support interaction, competition, collective action –and even conflict– can support greater civic engagement and political participation. Neighborhoods that Matter highlights the connection between politics, people, and place, calling for good suburban and urban design that can support a vibrant and engaging civic life.

International Law presents a student-focused approach to the subject; clearly written with non-native English-speaking students in mind, a range of learning features highlight the areas of debate and encourage students to engage critically with key disputes.

Written by one of the leading scholars of Japanese religion, Lords of Life is the fifth and last book of a multivolume project that stands as a milestone in our understanding of the mythico-ritual system of esoteric Buddhism—specifically the nature and roles of deities within the religious landscape of medieval Japan and beyond. Bernard Faure introduces readers to medieval Japanese religiosity, highlighting the central role of gods in religious discourse and ritual. In doing so, he departs from traditional textual, historical, and sociological approaches that constitute the "method" of current religious studies. Instead, Faure draws on theoretical insights from structuralism, post-structuralism, and Actor-Network Theory to retrieve the "implicit pantheon" (as opposed to the "explicit orthodox pantheon") of esoteric Japanese Buddhism (Mikkyo). In the earlier volumes—The Fluid Pantheon and Predators and Protectors— Faure argued against a polarity or dichotomy between buddhas and kami by emphasizing the existence of deities that did not belong to either category, and he rejected the retrospective notion of "hybridity." In Rage and Ravage, he made a similar case about the reified distinction between gods and demons to show that, due to the fluid nature of the Japanese pantheon, these terms do not represent stable identities: gods can become demons, and demons are sometimes deified. From Stars to Stones, the fourth volume, showed how mythological notions influenced (and in return were transformed by) medieval Japanese religion and the performing arts (geino). In this final book, Lords of Life, Faure explores the concept of surveillance in Daoism and Buddhism, the significance of the gods of destiny, and how they transform the official, or frontal, Buddhist doctrine of karma. This perspective offers a distinctive view of Buddhism, approaching it as if through a "back door." Throughout this monumental series, Faure expertly weaves together religion's various strands to underscore his argument that Japanese religion cannot be fully understood by relying solely on abstract categories like "Buddhism" and "Shinto," despite convention and convenience.

Esta traducción al español brinda un marco conceptual para evaluar y guiar la agenda de análisis gubernamental en América Latina y el Caribe. Se exploran estrategias para aprovechar las inversiones en GovTech, promoviendo transformaciones en la administración pública y mejorando la toma de decisiones.

Focuses on three critical challenges for China as it strives to achieve its "dual carbon" goals: decarbonizing the power sector, abating industrial emissions, and enhancing nature-based carbon sinks.

4th edition of the casebook providing an article-by-article analysis of the CISG Convention.

Exploring the stories of nurses who served Florida’s Indigenous communities during the Great Depression and the decades of change that followedIn this intersectional history, Christine Ardalan tells the stories of nurses who worked among the Seminole and Miccosukee people in Florida during the mid-twentieth century. Ardalan profiles three US government field nurses, several public health nurses, and the Seminole practical nurse Betty Mae Tiger Jumper. Ardalan’s analysis offers insights into the tensions between the white nurses and their supervisors, cultural differences between them and the communities they served, and the ways they often reinforced settler-colonial ideologies. Ardalan looks at the work of the US nurses together with that of Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, who led the effort to respect traditional practices alongside government clinical care. Tiger Jumper cemented the healthcare message that the people themselves should determine their own paths toward healthfulness and well-being. The book concludes in 1971, when the Seminole Tribe of Florida assumed control of its health services. The information in this book contributes to the history of nursing and of Florida’s Indigenous communities during a period of great change.

4th edition of the casebook providing an article-by-article analysis of the CISG Convention.

<b>A revealing exploration of a quarter century of cultural stagnation, examining the commercial and technological forces that have come to dominate contemporary culture—from music and fashion to art, film, TV, and beyond</b><br><br>Over the past twenty-five years, pop culture has suffered from a perplexing lack of reinvention. We’ve entered a cultural “blank space”—an era when reboots, rehashes, and fads flourish, while bold artistic experimentation struggles to gain recognition. Why is risk no longer rewarded, and how did playing it safe become the formula for success? Acclaimed cultural historian W. David Marx sets out to uncover the answers.<br><br>In this ambitious cultural history, Marx guides us through the blur of the twenty-first century so far, from the Obama era to the rise of K-pop, from Paris Hilton to the Marvel cinematic universe, from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to . . . Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, whose enduring influence highlights both their adaptability and the broader shifts in pop culture. Combining sociological, economic, and political insights with a deep dive into art, street culture, fashion, and technology, <i>Blank Space </i>dissects the rise of profit-driven, formulaic trends and the shifting cultural norms that often prioritize going viral over innovation. He reveals how backlash against indie snobbery and nineties counterculture gave rise to a “counter-counterculture”—one marked by antiliberal sentiment, the celebration of business heroes, and the increasing influence of industry plants and the elite class. In a world of crypto bros, nepo babies, and AI-driven art, Marx offers readers a much-needed dose of clarity and context.<br><br>Vibrantly narrated and sharply argued, <i>Blank Space </i>is an essential guide for anyone looking to understand the chaos of the twenty-first century, the trends, tastemakers, and icons who shaped it, and how we might push our culture forward over the next quarter century—through renewed emphasis on creativity, community, and the values that transcend mere profit.