Edward Ashbee - Böcker

American society today provides a balanced introduction to the defining features of contemporary American society. Includes the ways in which the US can be considered ‘exceptional’ - the character of the 'American dream', the role of ethnicity and race, and the differences between the regions. Considers in depth a number of contemporary debates including the claim that the US economy has lost its capacity to generate wealth and stimulate mobility, that there has been a process of civic disengagement as voluntary organisations have lost members, and that the traditional family is in decline. Includes a thorough investigation of the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11 and their aftermath. Looks at the arguments put forward by those who assert that a common American identity has given way to a multitude of conflicting identities structured around factors such as race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality.

The Bush Administration, sex and the moral agenda considers White House policy towards issues such as abortion, sex education, obscenity and same-sex marriage. The book suggests that although accounts have often emphasised the ties between George W. Bush and the Christian right, the administration's strategy was, at least until early 2005, also directed towards the courting of middle ground opinion. This study offers a detailed and comprehensive survey of policy-making; assesses the political significance of moral concerns; evaluates the role of the Christian right, and throws new light on George W. Bush's years in office and the character of his thinking. The book will prove invaluable for those taking social science courses as well as as well as anyone with a general interest in the Bush presidency.

The third edition of US politics today provides a concise, up-to-date and accessible introduction to US government and politics. It offers a survey of core institutions such as the Presidency, Congress and the US Supreme Court, assesses the electoral system and considers the part played by organised interests and political parties. The book includes coverage of the 2008 presidential election and the Obama administration's record in office. The book also introduces some of the most important debates and arguments within American political science. These include theories of voting behaviour, different approaches to presidential power, competing perspectives on the changing nature of the political parties, and contrasting representations of the lobbying process. The book is of particular relevance to undergraduate and A-level students but is also valuable for the general reader.

The US Economy Today provides an invaluable introduction to American economic history since 1929. Its coverage includes the New Deal, the post-war boom, “stagflation” in the 1970s, “Reaganomics”, the Clinton and Bush years, the 2008 - 2009 economic crisis and President Obama’s first hundred days. In addition, this volume considers core contemporary economic policy debates and draws conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of the US economic “model”. It looks at the causes and consequences of inequality, the extent to which there is economic mobility, and the impact of globalization and foreign trade. This book will be essential reading for those studying or teaching American economics, economic history or politics and all those looking for a thorough and comprehensive introduction to this area.

The US Economy Today provides an invaluable introduction to American economic history since 1929. Its coverage includes the New Deal, the post-war boom, “stagflation” in the 1970s, “Reaganomics”, the Clinton and Bush years, the 2008 - 2009 economic crisis and President Obama’s first hundred days. In addition, this volume considers core contemporary economic policy debates and draws conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of the US economic “model”. It looks at the causes and consequences of inequality, the extent to which there is economic mobility, and the impact of globalization and foreign trade. This book will be essential reading for those studying or teaching American economics, economic history or politics and all those looking for a thorough and comprehensive introduction to this area.

The right and the recession considers the ways in which conservative activists, groupings, parties and interests in the US and Britain responded to the financial crisis and the 'Great Recession' that followed in its wake. The book looks at the tensions and stresses between different ideas, interests and institutions and the ways in which they shaped the character of political outcomes. In Britain, these processes opened the way for leading Conservatives to redefine their commitment to fiscal retrenchment and austerity. Whereas public expenditure reductions had been portrayed as a necessary response to earlier overspending they were increasingly represented as a way of securing a permanently 'leaner' state. The book assesses the character of this shift in thinking as well as the viability of these efforts to shrink the state and the parallel attempts in the US to cut federal government spending through mechanisms such as the budget sequester.

Donald Trump's ascendancy has seemingly transformed the US's relationships with both its allies and adversaries. How much, however, has been bluster and how far have realities changed? Has Trump ushered in, as he has so often claimed, a new era? This book looks back at Trump's first term of office and brings a new perspective to the debate. It considers Trump's impact on US foreign policy through the analytical lens of policy feedback and, on this basis, assesses the opportunities that were open to him and the constraints that reined in his administration, particularly in its dealings with Russia, Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. The book argues that Trump not only took strategic advantage of the opportunities open to him but changed policy in ways that bound his successor and set the stage for his second administration. Trump has, in other words, presided over changes in the trajectory of US foreign policy that, in certain arenas at least, has been genuinely transformative.

This book considers the reasons for Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the 2016 presidential election. It charts the prolonged campaign and the realigning processes that took place, analysing the ideas that defined the Trump platform, the electoral shifts in states regarded as solid ‘firewalls’ for the Democratic Party and the responses of Republican Party elites.Although he is subject to contradictory pressures, the book places Trump firmly within the right-wing populist tradition. However, it argues that the sentiments that drove his campaign were not only a response to economic fears, high levels of inequality and racial resentment – they were also shaped by the structural character of American governance, which fuels hostility towards Washington DC and the ‘political class’. The book concludes by assessing the extent to which Trump’s victory and parallel developments in Europe mark a reconfiguration of neoliberalism.

US politics today not only introduces the defining features of contemporary American politics but also considers the strengths and weaknesses of a system that is now under serious strain.The book is ideal for students, teaching staff and the general reader. It outlines the ways in which the Constitution shapes the politics of today, surveys the role of the presidency, Congress and the federal courts, and examines processes of political participation through elections, organized interests and parties. It pays particular attention to Barack Obama and Donald Trump’s turbulent years in office and the ways in which recent decades have reshaped the US political landscape. US politics today also places the US in a comparative context and considers key theoretical perspectives. In sum, the book not only provides an indispensable introduction to contemporary American politics but establishes a basis for informed commentary and further study.

This timely and significant book provides a comprehensive overview of right-wing ideology and policy-making in the years since Ronald Reagan left office, and an explanation of the reasons why the Republicans, the 'party of Reagan', turned towards Donald Trump.The authors assess the ways in which the Reagan legacy, rather than the empirical realities of his tenure, has impacted economic, social and cultural policy formation and conservative efforts at reshaping the United States. They also evaluate the changing relationships between different ideological currents on the right. Against this background, The American Right after Reagan discusses Trump's insurgent populism and the profound tensions that have marked his presidency.This thought-provoking book will prove invaluable to scholars in political science and American Studies, in particular those studying US domestic or foreign policy during this period. It will also provide useful insights for those seeking to understand the recent rise of right-wing populism and Trump's ascendancy.

Edward Ashbee examines the globalizing processes of the past thirty years and considers the extent to which there has been “deglobalization” or “slowbalization” and the reasons for these apparent shifts.The book looks at the original promise held out by globalizing trends which became fully evident at the same time as the dot.com economy became part of everyday life. The book then charts the backlash against “globalism” and the ways in which it became pronounced across much of Europe, North America and Asia. And it asks how far has that backlash, together with the 2008 financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the rise of “techno-nationalism” led to a stalling or even reversal in globalizing processes.The analysis disaggregates the different trends that collectively constitute “globalization” and surveys competing perspectives on globalization and reviews the arguments of those who argue that the concept is either myth or hyperbole. The book reveals how globalization is being reconfigured in ways that weaken its former associations with neoliberalism and Americanization thereby laying the basis for a new economic and social settlement.

Edward Ashbee examines the globalizing processes of the past thirty years and considers the extent to which there has been “deglobalization” or “slowbalization” and the reasons for these apparent shifts.The book looks at the original promise held out by globalizing trends which became fully evident at the same time as the dot.com economy became part of everyday life. The book then charts the backlash against “globalism” and the ways in which it became pronounced across much of Europe, North America and Asia. And it asks how far has that backlash, together with the 2008 financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the rise of “techno-nationalism” led to a stalling or even reversal in globalizing processes.The analysis disaggregates the different trends that collectively constitute “globalization” and surveys competing perspectives on globalization and reviews the arguments of those who argue that the concept is either myth or hyperbole. The book reveals how globalization is being reconfigured in ways that weaken its former associations with neoliberalism and Americanization thereby laying the basis for a new economic and social settlement.

The global business landscape is changing — rapidly. The past decade has seen major disruptions, including the pandemic, military conflict, and geopolitical tensions, with severe ramifications for multinational organizations that operate as part of the global economy. It is no longer viable to optimize international business activities in tightly coupled value chains too rigid and inflexible to deal with major, often unexpected, disruptions. Instead, rapidly changing environmental conditions require flexible processes and structures to enable adaptation to major events.In this edited volume, researchers at the Copenhagen Business School, associated international scholars, and talented students attempt to make sense of these global political developments, considering how they may affect global business conditions, and how multinational enterprises can navigate them. The volume includes 18 distinct chapters addressing different business and policy challenges posed by an uncertain economic future. The possible consequences of these changes are analyzed in view of emerging trends toward deglobalization between Europe and the rest of the world. These will inevitably affect the structure of global industries, and multinational corporations must find ways to deal effectively with the changing conditions. Many of the contributions frame the issues from a European angle, whereas others present diverse backgrounds outside of European markets, including China, India, and the United States. So, the volume presents "European Perspectives," while also engaging with broader economic, political, and cultural views.

This edited volume considers the extent to which the Obama presidency matched the promises of hope and change that were held out in the 2008 election.