Thomas Meyer – författare

The long-awaited and revelatory biography of Hannah Arendt — one of the greatest philosophers of the twentieth century — and the story of an intellectual icon whose character and ideas continue to captivate and challenge us to this day. Born in Germany in 1906 to a Jewish family, Hannah Arendt became a chronicler able to translate personal experience into concise analysis; an analytical thinker who wrested from Plato, Kant, and Heidegger that which seemed eternal yet was of the utmost contemporary relevance; a free spirit who felt an obligation only to her friends, her lovers, and the truth. Arendt's mode of thinking and the sheer range of her interlocutors and influences form an intellectual panorama of the twentieth century that is unparalleled. For her entire life, she refused to think within boundaries — her teachers, friends, and intellectual allies included Heidegger, Bultmann, Mannheim, Brecht, and Benjamin, to name but a few.Drawing on newly discovered archival materials and previously overlooked documents in both Germany and the USA, Thomas Meyer traces Arendt's journey from Königsberg to Paris — where she fled after being imprisoned in 1933 — and finally to New York in 1941, illuminating her formative years and the development of her radical and brilliant books, as well as her famous affair and lifelong philosophical debate with Martin Heidegger, whose Nazism was a permanent challenge to her.Woman, friend, lover, journalist, Jew, human rights activist, philosopher and political theorist, Arendt continues to exert fascination as both icon and thinker. Meyer's biography centres on two pivotal phases: Arendt's years in Paris after fleeing Nazi Germany, and her time in the United States leading up to the landmark publication of The Origins of Totalitarianism in 1951. It was her coverage of the trial of Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem in 1961, however, that would make her world-famous — and notorious. Her coining of the phrase *the banality of evil* to describe the Nazi bureaucrat who had helped orchestrate the Holocaust remains one of the most debated and resonant formulations in modern thought, as controversial today as when she first wrote it.The result is not only a meticulous reconstruction of an extraordinary life but a compelling invitation to rethink her legacy for our own troubled times. At a moment of acute political polarisation, with liberalism in crisis and urgent debates about freedom, responsibility, and truth unfolding all around us, Arendt's ideas resonate more powerfully than ever — and this magnificent biography restores to us the full complexity of the woman behind them.

This book examines the role of the cultural factor, and patterns of its interaction with social, economic and political developments, in fostering identity-based new populisms and various forms of political authoritarianism across the globe. Comparing authoritarianism in the Asian and Western context, this book attempts to shed light on the different ways in which new political actors make use of cultural traditions or constructs in order to justify their claims to power and challenge the culture of modernity as understood in the Western world. Lastly, the book focuses on the consequence of these new challenges for multilateral cooperation at regional and global levels, asking the question: is the world going towards fragmentation and anarchy or a pluralist and innovative form of multilateral cooperation?This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of populism and authoritarianism studies, democracy, global governance and more broadly to international relations.

This book examines the role of the cultural factor, and patterns of its interaction with social, economic and political developments, in fostering identity-based new populisms and various forms of political authoritarianism across the globe. Comparing authoritarianism in the Asian and Western context, this book attempts to shed light on the different ways in which new political actors make use of cultural traditions or constructs in order to justify their claims to power and challenge the culture of modernity as understood in the Western world. Lastly, the book focuses on the consequence of these new challenges for multilateral cooperation at regional and global levels, asking the question: is the world going towards fragmentation and anarchy or a pluralist and innovative form of multilateral cooperation?This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of populism and authoritarianism studies, democracy, global governance and more broadly to international relations.

This edited book focuses on the dynamic balance between global cultural diversity and multilateral convergence in relevant policy areas that involve actual and potential policy convergences (and divergences): the environment, trade, peace and security, and human rights.It offers theoretical reflections about the impact of the concept of multiple modernities on new ideas, cultural backgrounds, and/or national or regional particularities. An interdisciplinary team of authors combines comparative policy analysis with theoretical dialogue about the conceptual, institutional, normative, and political dimensions of a new kind of multilateral cooperation. Finally, the book concludes that by stimulating an intercultural dialogue which goes beyond a mere "rational choice" approach, we can foster progress through a better understanding of the opportunities and limitations offered by a pluralist, varied, post-hegemonic, and multilayered form of multilateral cooperation.This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European/EU studies, economics, human rights, climate change, history, cultural studies, international relations, international political economy, security studies, and international law.

This edited book focuses on the dynamic balance between global cultural diversity and multilateral convergence in relevant policy areas that involve actual and potential policy convergences (and divergences): the environment, trade, peace and security, and human rights.It offers theoretical reflections about the impact of the concept of multiple modernities on new ideas, cultural backgrounds, and/or national or regional particularities. An interdisciplinary team of authors combines comparative policy analysis with theoretical dialogue about the conceptual, institutional, normative, and political dimensions of a new kind of multilateral cooperation. Finally, the book concludes that by stimulating an intercultural dialogue which goes beyond a mere "rational choice" approach, we can foster progress through a better understanding of the opportunities and limitations offered by a pluralist, varied, post-hegemonic, and multilayered form of multilateral cooperation.This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European/EU studies, economics, human rights, climate change, history, cultural studies, international relations, international political economy, security studies, and international law.

This book discusses the impact of cultural diversities and identities on regional and interregional cooperation, as well as on multilateralism. Employing a comparative approach to organizations such as ASEAN, MERCOSUR, SAARC, and the African and European Unions, this volume seeks to understand their distinctive features and patterns of interaction. It also explores the diffusion of multidimensional interregional relations, including but not limited to the field of trade. Scholars from several disciplines and four continents offer insights concerning the consequences of both multiple modernities and the rise of authoritarian populism for regionalism, interregionalism, and multilateralism. The Covid-19 pandemic confirmed the decline of hegemonic multilateralism. Among alternative possible scenarios for global governance, the "new multilateralism" receives special attention. This book will be of key interest to European/EU studies, economics, history, cultural studies, international relations, international political economy, security studies, and international law.

This book discusses the impact of cultural diversities and identities on regional and interregional cooperation, as well as on multilateralism. Employing a comparative approach to organizations such as ASEAN, MERCOSUR, SAARC, and the African and European Unions, this volume seeks to understand their distinctive features and patterns of interaction. It also explores the diffusion of multidimensional interregional relations, including but not limited to the field of trade. Scholars from several disciplines and four continents offer insights concerning the consequences of both multiple modernities and the rise of authoritarian populism for regionalism, interregionalism, and multilateralism. The Covid-19 pandemic confirmed the decline of hegemonic multilateralism. Among alternative possible scenarios for global governance, the "new multilateralism" receives special attention. This book will be of key interest to European/EU studies, economics, history, cultural studies, international relations, international political economy, security studies, and international law.

In recent times, venture capital and private equity funds have become household names, but so far little has been written for the investors in such funds, the so-called limited partners. There is far more to the management of a portfolio of venture capital and private equity funds than usually perceived. Beyond the J Curve describes an innovative toolset for such limited partners to design and manage portfolios tailored to the dynamics of this market place, going far beyond the typical and often-simplistic recipe to 'go for top quartile funds'. Beyond the J Curve provides the answers to key questions, including: Why 'top-quartile' promises should be taken with a huge pinch of salt and what it takes to select superior fund managers?What do limited partners need to consider when designing and managing portfolios?How one can determine the funds' economic value to help addressing the questions of 'fair value' under IAS 39 and 'risk' under Basel II or Solvency II?Why is monitoring important, and how does a limited partner manage his portfolio?How the portfolio's returns can be improved through proper liquidity management and what to consider when over-committing?And, why uncertainty rather than risk is an issue and how a limited partner can address and benefit from the fast changing private equity environment?Beyond the J Curve takes the practitioner's view and offers private equity and venture capital professionals a comprehensive guide making high return targets more realistic and sustainable. This book is a must have for all parties involved in this market, as well as academic and students.

In his controversial new book, Thomas Meyer argues that the media are transforming traditional party democracy into ‘media democracy'. Political elites submit to the mass media's formulas in the hope of salvaging some influence over their public images. The media thus colonize politics, and the politicans' self-interest turns them into accomplices. Politics and the media have formed a partnership to conduct their main business: adopting well-tested formulas from the theatre to media productions. The public begins to respond to politics as an aesthetic phenomenon, losing sight of the principles that make political action unique and sustain autonomy and democracy. Real power in the media is wielded by an iron triangle committed to the media's logic of up-to-the-minute reportage: media-savvy political elites, pollsters and media executives. Democratic politics with its slow-paced processes has traditionally relied on parties, intermediary actors and the institutions of representative government, but all have been banished to the periphery today. Meyer shows how media democracy has replaced deliberation – once the lifeblood of democratic public life – with pseudo-plebiscites. Nevertheless, deliberative procedures could regain some influence through local civic participation and a thorough reform of the communicative culture of the mass media. Meyer argues that the culture of the media should be transformed in ways that would serve democracy, enabling citizens to deepen their understanding of political realities. This powerful critique of media democracy will be of great interest to students of politics and the media and to anyone concerned with the impact of the media on public life.

The ascendancy of neo-liberalism in different parts of the world has put social democracy on the defensive. Its adherents lack a clear rationale for their policies. Yet a justification for social democracy is implicit in the United Nations Covenants on Human Rights, ratified by most of the worlds countries. The covenants commit all nations to guarantee that their citizens shall enjoy the traditional formal rights; but they likewise pledge governments to make those rights meaningful in the real world by providing social security and cultural recognition to every person.This new book provides a systematic defence of social democracy for our contemporary global age. The authors argue that the claims to legitimation implicit in democratic theory can be honored only by social democracy; libertarian democracies are defective in failing to protect their citizens adequately against social, economic, and environmental risks that only collective action can obviate. Ultimately, social democracy provides both a fairer and more stable social order. But can social democracy survive in a world characterized by pervasive processes of globalization? This book asserts that globalization need not undermine social democracy if it is harnessed by international associations and leavened by principles of cultural respect, toleration, and enlightenment. The structures of social democracy must, in short, be adapted to the exigencies of globalization, as has already occurred in countries with the most successful social-democratic practices.

The ascendancy of neo-liberalism in different parts of the world has put social democracy on the defensive. Its adherents lack a clear rationale for their policies. Yet a justification for social democracy is implicit in the United Nations Covenants on Human Rights, ratified by most of the worlds countries. The covenants commit all nations to guarantee that their citizens shall enjoy the traditional formal rights; but they likewise pledge governments to make those rights meaningful in the real world by providing social security and cultural recognition to every person.This new book provides a systematic defence of social democracy for our contemporary global age. The authors argue that the claims to legitimation implicit in democratic theory can be honored only by social democracy; libertarian democracies are defective in failing to protect their citizens adequately against social, economic, and environmental risks that only collective action can obviate. Ultimately, social democracy provides both a fairer and more stable social order. But can social democracy survive in a world characterized by pervasive processes of globalization? This book asserts that globalization need not undermine social democracy if it is harnessed by international associations and leavened by principles of cultural respect, toleration, and enlightenment. The structures of social democracy must, in short, be adapted to the exigencies of globalization, as has already occurred in countries with the most successful social-democratic practices.

This edited book is devoted to an analysis of how the multiple modernities approach might help strengthen the strategic autonomy of the European Union and foster cooperative EU–China relations at a time when some observers believe that a new global cold war may be on the horizon. An international, interdisciplinary team of eminent scholars analyzes both the forces causing dangerous tensions to escalate and those that might stabilize the situation. Whether from China or Europe, the authors largely converge in their diagnoses. To serve its own vital interests, the EU can and must play the role of a politically independent actor, a mediator committed to the preservation of a fair and peaceful rules-based order. To do that, it must first pinpoint the economic and political concerns that it shares with both China and the USA, using them as guidelines in developing its own global strategies. The chapters collected in this volume try to shed light on that endeavor. Additionally, several aim to clarify China’s true intentions in international politics, beyond the rhetoric of conflict in which all parties presently engage. What role does Asia’s leading power actually aspire to play in world politics?The book will be of interest to students of history, international relations, international political economy, European and Chinese studies, and military and security affairs.Furthermore, its timely subject should stimulate debate among a wider audience of journalists, policy professionals, and politically engaged readers the world over.

This edited book is devoted to an analysis of how the multiple modernities approach might help strengthen the strategic autonomy of the European Union and foster cooperative EU–China relations at a time when some observers believe that a new global cold war may be on the horizon. An international, interdisciplinary team of eminent scholars analyzes both the forces causing dangerous tensions to escalate and those that might stabilize the situation. Whether from China or Europe, the authors largely converge in their diagnoses. To serve its own vital interests, the EU can and must play the role of a politically independent actor, a mediator committed to the preservation of a fair and peaceful rules-based order. To do that, it must first pinpoint the economic and political concerns that it shares with both China and the USA, using them as guidelines in developing its own global strategies. The chapters collected in this volume try to shed light on that endeavor. Additionally, several aim to clarify China’s true intentions in international politics, beyond the rhetoric of conflict in which all parties presently engage. What role does Asia’s leading power actually aspire to play in world politics?The book will be of interest to students of history, international relations, international political economy, European and Chinese studies, and military and security affairs.Furthermore, its timely subject should stimulate debate among a wider audience of journalists, policy professionals, and politically engaged readers the world over.

Arms investors with powerful new tools for measuring and managing the risks associated with the various illiquid asset classes With risk-free interest rates and risk premiums at record lows, many investors are turning to illiquid assets, such as real estate, private equity, infrastructure and timber, in search of superior returns and greater portfolio diversity. But as many analysts, investors and wealth managers are discovering, such investments bring with them a unique set of risks that cannot be measured by standard asset allocation models. Written by a dream team of globally renowned experts in the field, this book provides a clear, accessible overview of illiquid fund investments, focusing on what the main risks of these asset classes are and how to measure those risks in today's regulatory environment. Provides solutions for institutional investors in need of guidance in today's regulatory environmentOffers detailed descriptions of risk measurement in illiquid asset classes, illustrated with real life case studiesHelps you to develop reliable risk management tools while complying with the regulations designed to contain the individual and systemic risks arising from illiquid investmentsFeatures real-life case studies that capture an array of risk management scenarios you are likely to encounter

This book represents the first discussion from a political science perspective of the concept of Multiple Modernities in three dimensions. First taking stock of the discussions of the concept itself, the book then connects the concept to more recently developed analytical and normative concepts that concretize it, before finally opening up a discussion about its implications and consequences for the political dimension.Written by outstanding scholars in the field, the book addresses four principal concepts – Good Society, Good Governance, Human Security and Varieties of Capitalism. It determines whether and to what degree these concepts enable us to discover the commonalities and differences that distinguish the emerging multiple modernities in our time with respect to their political implications and consequences. This text will be of key interest to scholars and students of political theory, political economy, international relations, comparative politics and sociology.

This book represents the first discussion from a political science perspective of the concept of Multiple Modernities in three dimensions. First taking stock of the discussions of the concept itself, the book then connects the concept to more recently developed analytical and normative concepts that concretize it, before finally opening up a discussion about its implications and consequences for the political dimension.Written by outstanding scholars in the field, the book addresses four principal concepts – Good Society, Good Governance, Human Security and Varieties of Capitalism. It determines whether and to what degree these concepts enable us to discover the commonalities and differences that distinguish the emerging multiple modernities in our time with respect to their political implications and consequences. This text will be of key interest to scholars and students of political theory, political economy, international relations, comparative politics and sociology.

Advanced guidance for institutional investors, academics, and researchers on how to manage a portfolio of private capital fundsThe Art of Commitment Pacing: Engineering Allocations to Private Capital provides a much-needed analysis of the issues that face investors as they incorporate closed ended-funds targeting illiquid private assets (such as private equity, private debt, infrastructure, real estate) into their portfolios. These private capital funds, once considered "alternative" and viewed as experimental, are becoming an increasingly standard component of institutional asset allocations.  However, many investors still follow management approaches that remain anchored in the portfolio theory for liquid assets but that often lead to disappointing results when applied to portfolios of private capital funds where practically investors remain committed over nearly a decade.  When planning for such commitments, investment managers and researchers are faced with practical questions such as:   How to measure and control the real exposure to private assets? How to forecast cash-flows for commitments to private capital funds?  What ranges for their returns and lifetime are realistic, and how can the investor’s skill be factored in?  Over which dimensions should a portfolio be diversified and how much diversification is enough? How can the impact of co-investments or secondaries be modelled? How to design pacing plans that lead to resilient and efficient portfolios? What stress scenarios should be considered and how can they be applied?  These are just examples of the many questions for which answers are provided. The Art of Commitment Pacing describes established and new methodologies for building up and controlling allocations to such investments. This book offers a systematic approach for building up and controlling allocations to such investments. The Art of Commitment Pacing is a valuable addition to the libraries of investment managers, as well as portfolio and risk managers involved in institutional investment. The book will also be of interest to advanced students of finance, researchers, and other practitioners who require a detailed understanding of forecasting and portfolio management methodologies.

The last work published by Kant himself is a study of the relationship of philosophy to other academic disciplines. The very title of the work, Streit der Fakultäten (Dispute between the Faculties), published in 1797, makes it clear that the various disciplines are related critically, even polemically, to each other. As academic disciplines they share common obligations of knowledge, enlightenment and education; in their relationship with each other, however, they have the duty to contest the means and aims of knowledge. There can only be living science where this dispute about knowledge is conducted with the means of knowledge.In this volume, representatives of the faculties addressed by Kant give their assessment of Kant's relevance for their disciplines. As the Dispute between the Faculties was and is of importance for the foundation of the University of Berlin, Kant's contribution to university reform is also considered.