Alastair Smith - Böcker

"A lucidly written, shrewdly argued meditation on how democrats and dictators preserve political authority." -Wall Street JournalBruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith's canonical book on political science turns conventional wisdom on its head. They start from a single proposition: leaders do whatever keeps them in power. They don't care about the "national interest"-or even their subjects-unless they must. As Bueno de Mesquita and Smith show, democracy is essentially just a convenient fiction. Governments do not differ in kind, but only in the number of essential supporters or backs that need scratching. The size of this group determines almost everything about politics: what leaders can get away with and the quality of life or misery under them. And it is also the key to returning power to the people.

Analytical measurements at the single molecule level under ambient conditions have become almost routine in the past few years. The application of this technology to fundamental studies of heterogeneity in biomolecular structure and dynamics, chemical and biological reaction kinetics and photophysics provides a rich playground for molecular scientists. The potential use of single molecule detection for nanotechnology and quantum information processing is a new and almost unexplored area. This handbook is intended for those interested in a practical introduction to single molecule investigations using fluorescence techniques and places special emphasis on the practicalities of achieving single molecule resolution, analysing the resulting data and exploration of the applications in biophysics. It is ideal for graduate research students and others embarking on work in this exciting field.

Analytical measurements at the single molecule level under ambient conditions have become almost routine in the past few years. The application of this technology to fundamental studies of heterogeneity in biomolecular structure and dynamics, chemical and biological reaction kinetics, and photophysics provides a rich playground for molecular scientists. The potential use of single molecule detection for nanotechnology and quantum information processing is a new and almost unexplored area. This handbook is intended for those interested in a practical introduction to single molecule investigations using fluorescence techniques and places special emphasis on the practicalities of achieving single molecule resolution, analysing the resulting data and exploration of the applications in biophysics. It is ideal for graduate research students and others embarking on work in this exciting field.

Endogenous election timing allows leaders to schedule elections 'when the time is right'. The author proposes and tests an informational theory of endogenous election timing that explains when leaders call for elections and the consequences of their decisions. In particular, he argues that, if all else is equal, leaders announce elections when they anticipate a decline in their future performance. As a consequence, early elections signal a leader's lack of confidence in future outcomes. The earlier elections occur, relative to expectations, the stronger the signal of demise. Using data on British parliaments since 1945, the author tests hypotheses related to timing of elections, electoral support and subsequent economic performance. Leaders who call elections early (relative to expectations) experience a decline in their popular support relative to pre-announcement levels, experience worse post-electoral performance, and have shorter campaigns.

Endogenous election timing allows leaders to schedule elections 'when the time is right'. The author proposes and tests an informational theory of endogenous election timing that explains when leaders call for elections and the consequences of their decisions. In particular, he argues that, if all else is equal, leaders announce elections when they anticipate a decline in their future performance. As a consequence, early elections signal a leader's lack of confidence in future outcomes. The earlier elections occur, relative to expectations, the stronger the signal of demise. Using data on British parliaments since 1945, the author tests hypotheses related to timing of elections, electoral support and subsequent economic performance. Leaders who call elections early (relative to expectations) experience a decline in their popular support relative to pre-announcement levels, experience worse post-electoral performance, and have shorter campaigns.

When the United States invaded Iraq, President Bush made it clear: the U.S. was not fighting the Iraqi people. Rather, all quarrels were solely with Iraq's leadership. This kind of assertion remains frequent in foreign affairs--sanctions or military actions are imposed on a nation not because of its people, but because of its misguided leaders. Although the distinction might seem pedantic since the people suffer regardless, Punishing the Prince reveals how targeting individual leaders for punishment rather than the nations they represent creates incentives for cooperation between nations and leaves room for future relations with pariah states. Punishing the Prince demonstrates that theories of leader punishment explain a great deal about international behavior and interstate relations. The book examines the impact that domestic political institutions have on whether citizens hold their leaders accountable for international commitments and shows that the degrees to which citizens are able to remove leaders shape the dynamics of interstate relations and leader turnover.Through analyses of sovereign debt, international trade, sanctions, and crisis bargaining, Fiona McGillivray and Alastair Smith also uncover striking differences in patterns of relations between democratic and autocratic states. Bringing together a vast body of information, Punishing the Prince offers new ways of thinking about international relations.

Taking examples from everyday life, this fascinating book explores the chemistry of solids, liquids and gases, explaining exactly what they are and how they behave. An ideal revision tool, this book also contains experiments, activities and links to recommended websites to find out more and free downloadable images for homework and school projects.

Discover the amazing science behind everyday materials such as plastics and paint in this densely illustrated book. An ideal revision tool, it also contains simple experiments to do at home, a comprehensive index and glossary of useful terms, links to recommended websites to find out more and downloadable pictures for homework and school projects.

Neuropsychology is a vast field, overlapping with psychiatry, medicine and neuroscience. It essentially addresses the relationship between mind and brain through the study of dysfunction, with a range of research paradigms drawing from cognitive, clinical, neurological and neuroscientific perspectives. Neuropsychology has a long history, but newer methods for analyzing the brain (neuroimaging) have taken the field on an exciting new trajectory in the past 10 years.This six-volume collection provides a set of original sources that have proved to be popular, influential and enduring, and explicitly integrates modern neuroscience into neuropsychological endeavours. It represents the historical evolution of the field by presenting a set of papers which guide the reader from early thinking, often at a theoretical level, through the core empirical experiments and case studies which represent the advances of the field, up to more modern perspectives provided by neuroscientific accounts of brain and behaviour.Volume One: Conceptual and Historical Issues revisits early works to provide a context for key topics that are still being investigated by a range of neuropsychological methods.Volume Two: Cognitive Neuropsychology presents some of the "natural experiments" that are brought about by various injuries and diseases.Volume Three: Clinical and Applied Neuropsychology explores how neuropsychological assessment is used in clinical and applied settings.Volume Four: Cognitive Neuropsychiatry shows how neuropsychological paradigms can further our understanding of cognitive impairments traditionally associated with psychiatric disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, and developmental conditions.Volume Five: Imaging Brain and Behaviour describes the key techniques that are used to measure the activity of the brain in typical and atypical circumstances.Volume Six: Stimulating and Disrupting the Brain illustrates how various interventions can be used to affect brain function.

The 2024 edition of the bestselling Handbook series includes the complete testable materials from Life in the United Kingdom: A guide for new residents, the official Home Office materials.Passing the Life in the UK test is a compulsory requirement for anyone wanting to live permanently in Britain or become a British citizen. This practical study guide makes preparing for the test a lot easier.The new edition includes: Up-to-date advice on specific question formats and clear advice on how to avoid common mistakesFocus points to help target your studies.Clear and easy to understand diagrams illustrating complex topics.Helpful advice from successful students and FAQs.The 2023 edition includes advice on what to study and unique study aids. Our updated appendices help students develop the comprehensive understanding they will need to pass the test. This book offers detailed advice on the types of questions you will be asked in the official test.Purchasers also get a free subscription to online practice tests at www.lifeintheuk.net, along with up-to-date news and information. This book provides students with everything required to help them pass their test with confidence. The latest official materialsExpert and independent study adviceA FREE subscription to online practice tests at www.lifeintheuk.net

The 2025 edition of the best-selling study guide includes the complete testable materials from Life in the United Kingdom: A guide for new residents, the official Home Office materials.Passing the Life in the UK test is a compulsory requirement for anyone wanting to live permanently in Britain or become a British citizen. This practical study guide makes preparing for the test a lot easier.The new edition includes:    Updated advice on specific question formats and clear advice on how to avoid common mistakesFocus points to help target your studiesCompletely revised practice tests, based on customer feedback and the direct experience of our editors. This means we offer accurate and up-to-date advice on what the test is really likeClear and easy to understand diagrams illustrating complex topicsHelpful advice from successful students and FAQs.The 2025 edition includes advice on what to study, the kinds of questions to expect and unique study aids. Our study aids help students develop the comprehensive understanding they will need to pass the test. This book offers detailed advice on the types of question you will be asked in the official test.Purchasers also get a free subscription to online practice tests, along with up-to-date news and information. This book provides students with everything they need to help them pass their test with confidence. The latest official materialsExpert and independent study advicePractice questions, including a FREE subscription to online practice tests

The 2026 edition of the best-selling study guide includes the complete testable materials from Life in the United Kingdom: A guide for new residents, the official Home Office materials.Passing the Life in the UK test is a compulsory requirement for anyone wanting to live permanently in Britain or become a British citizen. This practical study guide makes preparing for the test a lot easier.The new edition includes:    Updated advice on specific question formats and clear advice on how to avoid common mistakesFocus points to help target your studiesCompletely revised practice tests, based on customer feedback and the direct experience of our editors. This means we offer accurate and up-to-date advice on what the test is really likeClear and easy to understand diagrams illustrating complex topicsHelpful advice from successful students and FAQs.The 2026 edition includes advice on what to study, the kinds of questions to expect and unique study aids. Our study aids help students develop the comprehensive understanding they will need to pass the test. This book offers detailed advice on the types of question you will be asked in the official test.Purchasers also get a free subscription to online practice tests, along with up-to-date news and information. This book provides students with everything they need to help them pass their test with confidence. The latest official materialsExpert and independent study advicePractice questions, including a FREE subscription to online practice tests

Featuring more than 475 questions based on Life in the United Kingdom: A guide for new residents, the official Home Office materials, Life in the UK Test: Practice Questions 2026 is the ideal study companion for anyone taking the Life in the UK test.Passing the Life in the UK test is a compulsory requirement for anyone wanting to live permanently in Britain or become a British citizen. This practical study aide makes preparing for the test a lot easier.This 2026 edition features practice tests completely revised from 2025 based on direct experience and extensive customer feedback. This means every question has been checked against official samples and formats for accuracy, and the book features question styles and formats seen in the official test.This book gives students access to practice questions which are just like the real test. Students also get a free subscription to online practice tests, along with up-to-date news and information.1. 20 complete practice tests, fully revised based on direct experience and customer feedback 2. Updated advice on what to study and what questions will be like 3. A free subscription for online practice tests.Complete study materials are available in the companion titles Life in the UK Test: Study Guide 2026 and Life in the UK Test: Handbook 2026.

The 2026 edition of the bestselling Life in the UK Test: Handbook includes the complete testable materials from Life in the United Kingdom: A guide for new residents, the official Home Office materials.Passing the Life in the UK test is a compulsory requirement for anyone wanting to live permanently in Britain or become a British citizen. This practical study guide makes preparing for the test a lot easier.The new edition includes: Up-to-date advice on specific question formats and clear advice on how to avoid common mistakesFocus points to help target your studiesClear and easy to understand diagrams illustrating complex topicsHelpful advice from successful students and FAQs.The 2026 edition includes advice on what to study and unique study aids. Our updated appendices help students develop the comprehensive understanding they will need to pass the test. This book offers detailed advice on the types of questions you will be asked in the official test.Purchasers also get a free subscription to online practice tests, along with up-to-date news and information. This book provides students with everything required to help them pass their test with confidence. The latest official materialsExpert and independent study adviceA FREE subscription to online practice tests.