Elgar Handbooks in Political Science – serie

This ground-breaking collection introduces readers to the fascinating research field of political anthropology. The chapters engage in major theoretical and methodological debates to provide interpretive frames, analytical tools and ethnographic illustrations for culturally based interpretations of political phenomena, revealing the intersection between anthropology, culture, politics and international relations. Theoretical tools such as liminality, sacrifice, mimesis, ethics, trickster and interpretation of meaning provide understanding of key challenges in a globalised world. These include war zones, revolutions, migration, securitization, territorial borders, climate change and ethno-religious violence. The contributing authors focus on the ethnographies of power, political culture and forms of cultural intimacy in informal networks. Using self-critical and reflexive approaches, they show that disciplinary boundaries have been reshaped by changing meanings of power, including reconfigurations of state and sovereignty. With reflections on the potential and limits of political anthropology, this Handbook explores the art of understanding human interaction within political frameworks in a globalising world. Offering a unique reference resource in the area with exceptional cross-disciplinary research, this Handbook will suit political, social and cultural anthropologists as well as scholars in comparative political analysis and social theory. Students and researchers of politics, anthropology and international relations will also benefit from the key methodological tools explaining the challenges and consequences of globalisation.Contributors include: S. Coleman, J.-P. Daloz, G. de Anna, H. Donnan, T.H. Eriksen, R. Farneti, M. Fog Olwig, J. Gledhill, J. Gould, S. Haugbølle, A. Horvath, C. Illies, J. Kubik, N. Long, M. Mälksoo, K. Martin, M. Moodie, M. Nuijten, P. Rabinow, M. Rasaratnam, P. Raman, E. Ranta, A. Sanchez, D. Sausdal, A. Stavrianakis, F. Stepputat, A. Szakolczai, B. Thomassen, H. Vigh, H. Wydra

This ground-breaking Handbook decentres theories of social and political arrangements originating from parochial histories of Europe and North America. It provides critical perspectives on capitalism, states, and political mobilisation, adopting an interdisciplinary approach to key contemporary issues in politics and society.Chapters address decolonial notions of scholarship that build on alternative conceptualizations of political and social practices. Authors explore a range of topics: post-socialist economies and social reproduction; sex testing in sports; black beauty and blackness in a black majority world; conceptualizations of land, property, and extraction through an Indigenous lens; the geopolitics of cities; #meToo in India; queer and labour politics of migration; the non-end of marriage; human rights to care; and gendered, raced, and classed articulations of violence, before turning to rethinking futures. Including insights from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, the Handbook connects the politics of race, class, sexuality, and genderThe Handbook on Politics and Society is an invaluable resource for students and academics in international political science and political sociology. Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in politics and anthropology will also benefit from its forward-thinking insights.

This comprehensive Handbook examines the role of political opposition across different political systems. Contributors draw on a series of in-depth case studies, including specific chapters on country-cases to explore the impact of opposition within democracies, anocracies (or hybrid regimes), and autocracies.Leading experts explore political opposition through a theoretical and comparative perspective, identifying a common analytic framework that can be applied across regime types. They assess the many forms political opposition can take, from opposition parties and interest groups to mass protests and violent action. The Handbook examines why particular modes of opposition manifest, while empirical chapters focus on the diversity and commonalities in opposition politics across the world, using a broad range of examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. The Handbook builds on several literatures in the sub-discipline of comparative politics, ultimately shedding light on the dynamics, dimensions and constraints of political opposition.Providing insight into the theory and practice of opposition politics, this expansive Handbook will greatly benefit scholars and students of comparative political science, public policy, and European and international politics.

This insightful Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of affective polarization, covering various subfields and theoretical frameworks and proposing avenues for further research. It highlights issues of conceptualization, methodology, causes, consequences, and interventions. It offers a comparative approach, examining the phenomenon across societies and political systems and providing evidence from Asia, Europe and the Americas.The chapters in this Handbook are written by leading experts in the field. The first part of the Handbook discusses how affective polarization can be understood in the light of political theory and how it can be studied through the use of quantitative and qualitative methods. The next set of chapters provides comparative case studies across a range of world regions. Subsequent chapters examine the potential causes of polarization, including its social and ideological roots and the role played by, among others, identities, political competition, communication, and economic factors. The Handbook also reflects on the consequences of affective polarization for society and democracy, ranging from representation and accountability to political violence and democratic backsliding.The Handbook of Affective Polarization is an essential resource for students and academics in political science, sociology, political psychology, and adjacent fields. Policymakers and practitioners working in public administration and management will also greatly benefit from its forward-thinking insights and strategies for mitigating affective polarization.

This comprehensive Research Handbook provides a contemporary review of research on American foreign and security policy, exploring its sources and processes as well as patterns of change and continuity.Drawing on both theoretical and empirical perspectives, leading scholars examine the external factors that influence US foreign policy, including geopolitics, globalization, great power rivalry, and international organizations. They also investigate the impact of key internal institutions and processes such as the Presidency and the Congress, as well as the effects of interest groups and civil society. The Research Handbook also analyzes the policy tools available to decision makers, with an emphasis on the use and efficacy of sanctions and foreign assistance.The Research Handbook on American Foreign and Security Policy is an essential resource for scholars and students of international politics, international relations, public policy, and American politics. It is also beneficial for policymakers, practitioners, and think tank intellectuals seeking a holistic understanding of American foreign policy.

The Handbook of Latin American Politics provides a comprehensive overview of the actors, institutions, and challenges shaping politics, governance and democracy across the region. With over 70 entries by leading scholars, it examines the interplay of social movements, political elites, civil society, state institutions, and international actors, revealing both the promise and perils of democratic and institutional development in Latin America. The volume explores how grassroots mobilization and resistance confront democratic backsliding, how institutional design and accountability shape resilience or decay, and how pressing policy challenges—from inequality and migration to social conflict and environmental governance—reshape political dynamics. Special attention is given to public administration, highlighting bureaucratic autonomy, civil service reform, decentralization, corruption, and transparency as crucial dimensions of state capacity and citizen trust. In addition, the Handbook situates regional politics within broader global influences, including international organizations, financial institutions, and social media, and provides detailed case studies of 20 countries. An essential reference for scholars, students, and practitioners, this Handbook will appeal to those interested in Latin American politics, democratization, public administration, political economy, and global governance. Key Features:73 entries written by expert scholarsCoverage of the last two decades of Latin American politics, including post-pandemic developmentsAnalysis of six core dimensions: social actors, institutions, democracy, international actors, policy challenges, and public administration20 country case studies

This comprehensive Handbook provides an assessment of recent scholarship in the field of International Relations (IR). Cameron G. Thies brings together leading scholars to explore its contested disciplinary foundations, as well as the major theoretical and methodological approaches used to explain and understand IR.Taking an inclusive approach, this Handbook assesses both mainstream and radical approaches to IR. Chapters examine key aspects of international security, with discussions of terrorism, cybersecurity, diplomatic and intelligence studies, alongside an analysis of the differences, origins and evolution of peace science and conflict processes. Drawing on a wide range of theoretical debates and diverse case studies, authors explore issues relating to comparative foreign policy, critical international political economy and trade. They investigate the legalization of world politics, with a focus on international organizations, law and human rights, and the world environment. Expanding on an individual's role in IR, they also explore themes such as ethnicity and nationalism, global health and religion.Broad in scope, this Handbook advances both academic and policy knowledge, theorising and empirically apprehending the current state of IR for students, scholars and researchers of International Relations, politics and foreign policy. Global think tanks and foreign policymakers will additionally find the insights presented here beneficial.

This multidisciplinary Handbook examines the complex and often hidden relationship between organised crime and politics across the globe, highlighting the difficulties involved in researching such relationships and offering new insights into how they evolve to become pervasive and destructive.Organised into five distinct sections, key chapters focus on issues and case studies from across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Eurasia and international organisations in order to provide a new and systematic picture and analysis of what the relationship between criminal organisations and politics looks like in different national contexts. In so doing, it offers an insight into the ever-evolving nature of this relationship, and the exchanges within it, in order to identify common features and key differences. These in turn raise provoking questions regarding the possibility of improving democracy, political systems, civil society and economic systems in order to counter the possible infiltration of these organisations, their associates and representatives.Students and scholars of public policy, politics, criminology and those focussing on organised crime more specifically will find this Handbook an original and engaging guide to the current state of play, whilst policy makers, practitioners and NGOs will find the case studies set in national context eminently valuable.Contributors include: S. Adorno, F. Allum, J. Arsovska, M. Beare, M. Bedetti, G. Borrelli, S. Brady, D. Bright, J.-L. Briquet, A. Chung, N. Dalponte, A. De Vos, C.N. Dias, S. Dinnen, G. Favarel-Garrigues, J. Gilbert, S. Gilmour, C. Gunnarson, E. Gutterman, C. Hemmings, A. Idler, D. Islas, J. Janssens, S. Jeperson, M. Joutsen, A. Kupatadze, R. Le Cour Grandmaison, S. Lemière, A. Markovska, V. Mete, S. Musau, A. Orlova, I. Roberge, A. Rostami, D. Silverstone, M. Shaw, D. Smith Jr., F. Strazzari, M. Tzvetkova, C. van Ham, G. Walton, J. Wheatley, J. Whittle, Y. Zabyelina, G. Zanoletti

At a time when political representation can be said to be facing its ultimate crisis, this crucial work clarifies the terms of the debate, providing an up-to-date analysis of the main conceptual and institutional controversies that have arisen surrounding this topic.Written by leading scholars in the field, contributions focus on how representation is conceptualised and its relation to democracy, examining how political institutions in different historical periods (ranging from the middle ages to the modern day) have ensured representation based on demands of various social forces. This Research Handbook also encapsulates the directions taken by the main strands of empirical research in political representation within the context of liberal democracies and beyond. Overall, this provides a major contribution to the growing understanding of one of the most important institutional inventions of contemporary politics.The Research Handbook on Political Representation is a comprehensive and agile guide to the main bodies of literature on representation for academic researchers in political science, sociology and history. It will also guide post-graduate and graduate students of the same fields in the exploration of the crucial research questions arising from the concept and reality of political representation.

Synthesising diverse research avenues for politics, discourse, and political discourse, this cutting-edge Handbook examines the formative traditions, current theoretical and methodological landscape, and genres and domains over which political discourse extends.Drawing on rich and dynamic models in critical cognitive linguistics, pragmatics, metaphor analysis, context, and multimodality studies, leading scholars provide tools to analyse a broad range of traditional and modern genres of political communication. Taking a historical dive into formative traditions in political discourse, including rhetoric and social and poststructuralist theories, this Handbook revises these classical models of political communication against new empirical contexts to offer the most fruitful, objective, and universal methodologies to date. Examining propaganda, advertising, political speeches and election campaigns, this Handbook pays particular attention to newly arising genres and discourses which reflect the momentous changes in the public domain, fuelled by recent and developing events including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine war.Drawing diverse insights from a wide array of disciplines, this Handbook will prove invaluable to students and scholars of political theory, sociology, philosophy, linguistics, discourse analysis, and communication studies who are looking for innovative methodologies with which to analyse political discourse.

The Research Handbook on Visual Politics focuses on key theories and methodologies for better understanding visual political communication. It also concentrates on the depictions of power within politics, taking a historical and longitudinal approach to the topic of placing visuals within a wider framework of political understanding.The Handbook provides an introduction to the theoretical underpinning of the study of visual politics as well as an overview of the current thinking and research traditions in the field of visual politics. The impressive selection of contributors explore all types of media, including studies of the tools utilised for visual politics such as social media, art and photography, featuring the latest platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. The editors also include discussions of visual politics covering a range of nations and political systems while placing current practices in visual politics within their historical context.Offering a rich range of studies exploring differing practices within their contexts to highlight current studies and support the development of future research, this Research Handbook is designed for researchers and students interested in the broad field of politics and the subfields of political communication, persuasion, propaganda and rhetoric.

This thoroughly revised second edition Handbook examines the latest knowledge and perspectives on digital politics. Through new content on digital populism, filter bubbles, algorithmic power, AI, non-Western digital politics, election communication regulation and right-wing alternative news media, contributors challenge the binary of cyber-optimism and cyber-pessimism and argue for a more nuanced understanding of political change.Arranged around key themes, this Handbook investigates the meaning of digital politics and analyses the impact of new technologies and platforms on politics. Chapters consider the digital reconfiguration of civic practices, political institutions and journalism. Leading scholars provide original, incisive and provocative insights into cutting-edge issues, exploring how the expansion of digital technologies, channels and styles shapes political dynamics.Providing a broad and in-depth overview of digital politics, this Handbook will be an invaluable resource for researchers, educators and students of politics, media and communication studies, journalism, technology and governance. It will also be essential reading for political practitioners, policy-makers and strategists seeking to better understand the digital world.

Examining the nature of public opinion in democratic societies, this Handbook succinctly illustrates the importance of public opinion as an instrument of popular control and democratic accountability. Expert contributors in the field provide a thorough review of a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of this timely topic.The concise but comprehensive chapters investigate the theoretical value of biological, contextual, psychological, sociological and economic perspectives when exploring public opinion. The Handbook also demonstrates useful insights that can be generated from quantitative or qualitative research designs from both an observational and experimental perspective. Furthermore, its informative assessment of the origins and structure of how public opinion is formed allows for a greater understanding of how policies are developed as a result.Providing a state-of-the-art review, this Handbook will be an excellent study resource for scholars of public opinion in political science, sociology and psychology. Political practitioners, particularly government officials, political operatives and pollsters will also find this informative and illuminating.

In this engaging Handbook, Alice Mattoni brings together an international team of scholars to provide a multifaceted exploration of progressive politics. Contributing authors expertly discuss progressive politics within contemporary global debates, addressing contentious issues and acknowledging the impact of technological advances on the political landscape.This Handbook identifies issues central to the progressive agenda, such as climate change, migration, and international conflict, while considering progressive politics in relation to digitalization and datafication. Authors illustrate the tensions within progressive politics, examining the roles of different political and non-political actors, such as social movement organizations. It demonstrates how the interactions and disagreements of these actors reshape the idea of what progressive politics has been, is, and will become in the near future.This is a compelling resource for scholars of political science, political sociology, social movements and civil society. This Handbook's interdisciplinary approach also makes it valuable to scholars across media and communication studies, gender politics, and environmental studies who are interested in how their disciplines intersect with progressive politics.

This timely Handbook examines the causes, costs and consequences of state fragility, advancing key debates in the field. Demonstrating the multidimensionality of fragility by applying diverse theories and methodologies, it provides new insights on effective policy development and application in the context of fragile states.Drawing on a wide variety of disciplines, approaches and case studies, the Handbook pays particular attention to the root causes and drivers of fragility. It centres authority, legitimacy and the citizen-state relationship alongside state capacity, revealing the flaws in the reasoning behind previous Western policy interventions in fragile states. Chapters address a broad range of issues facing fragile states, from fragility traps, refugees and urbanisation to recent events including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the increasing pressures of climate change. Ultimately, the Handbook advances the state of both academic and policy knowledge on state fragility, revealing the deep links between the two. This Handbook will be a valuable resource for scholars and students of political science, international relations, development studies, economics, and sociology. It will also benefit practitioners seeking to improve the effectiveness of their policy proposals.

Drawing on the theoretical debates, practical applications, and sectoral approaches in the field, this ground-breaking Handbook unpacks the political and regulatory developments in AI and big data governance. Covering the political implications of big data and AI on international relations, as well as emerging initiatives for legal regulation, it provides an accessible overview of ongoing data science discourses in politics, law and governance.With novel insights into existing and emerging debates, this cutting-edge Handbook highlights the mutual effects of big data and AI on society. Amongst other theoretical and sectoral issues, chapters analyse the liability of AI use in autonomous weapons, the role of big data in healthcare and education, the intersections between AI and gender in human rights law, and the ethics of public facial-recognition technology. Addressing the many open questions and future regulatory problems, it uses data science to investigate the dynamics between the technical aspects, societal dynamics and governance implications of big data and AI.Transdisciplinary in scope, this Handbook will be invaluable to students and researchers across the fields of politics, law, governance and data science, alongside policymakers concerned with the regulation and governance of AI and big data in public and private institutions.

Bringing together leading international scholars, this comprehensive Research Handbook analyses key problems, subjects, regions, and countries in civil-military relations. Showcasing cutting-edge research developments, it illustrates the deeply complex nature of the field and examines important topics in need of renewed consideration.Arranged in five thematic sections, chapters explore the role of armed forces in politics and society, the missions and roles of militaries, and crucial issues of control, compliance and effectiveness. Contributors present theoretically informed and empirically applied research asking novel questions and examining cutting-edge solutions to ongoing problems in the field. They demonstrate the wide range of research methodologies and meta-theoretical traditions in civil-military relations, spanning structuralism, behavioralism, institutionalism, and constructivism. Ultimately, the Research Handbook is a timely insight into the contemporary role of militaries, for example in democratization and autocratization processes and deployment during natural disasters and pandemics.The Research Handbook on Civil–Military Relations will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of military, security, and strategic studies, as well as comparative politics and military sociology. It will also be an important read for policymakers seeking to better understand the role of the military in society.

This Handbook uses a comprehensive study of political institutions, social movements and external pressures to offer nuanced study of politics in the Middle East. Foremost scholars on the Middle East examine key themes such as political change, regional rivalry and authoritarianism, making this collection very timely and relevant as an authoritative source.Throughout history, the Middle East has been subject to high levels of political upheaval, revolutions, interstate and intrastate conflict and population dislocation. Charting the ongoing disruptions to authoritarianism in the Middle East, chapters consider the internal logic of the divide between state and society, the continued disregard for societal needs, and the suppression of legitimate grievances, all of which would indicate further and future upheavals. The Handbook engages with questions of political legitimacy and popular aspirations, energy and environmental security, foreign power interests and political ideologies to present a well-rounded picture of a dynamic region.Readers will find this book rich in original and measured insights. Incorporating development studies, politics and public policy and political geography, this Handbook provides scholars and students with compelling insights into Middle Eastern politics.

The Research Handbook on Conflict Prevention is a cohesive and comparative analysis of the ways in which organised violence is combatted. Renowned experts dissect the complex problem of conflict prevention by investigating its three main aspects: agency, methods and timing.This incisive Research Handbook both reviews the current literature on conflict prevention and introduces new theoretical and empirical findings. Contributors compare the different roles played by women’s groups, academics, military forces, and local and international agents such as the UN. They also explore resolution methods such as prenegotiation, negotiation, mediation and conflict transformation. In doing so, they illustrate the various ways in which hegemonic masculine approaches, peace journalism, and robust non-military and military approaches manage to reduce organised violence. Finally, the Research Handbook tracks the different phases of the conflict process, from the onset and escalation of conflict to conflict relapse. Confronting the vicious cycle of organised violence, this rigorous and multi-faceted study of conflict prevention provides an impetus towards understanding the field and inspiring solutions.In-depth and comprehensive, this Research Handbook will be of great benefit to scholars of conflict and international relations, human rights, terrorism, and security, as well as practitioners and policymakers in the field.

This Handbook provides a contemporary perspective on public diplomacy scholarship and practice, showcasing the growing diversity of the field. Expert contributing authors identify the challenges involved in implementing successful public diplomacy, and analyse how to effectively measure and evaluate programs to determine best practices.Seeking to develop and enhance this field, chapters examine the public diplomacy efforts of superpowers, middle powers, substates and developing countries. The Handbook reflects on the past and present of public diplomacy, and introduces new theoretical models to further expand the field’s scope. Employing detailed case studies from across the world, authors, including long-term career diplomats, demonstrate how public diplomacy can be used to encourage either conflict or cooperation. Ultimately, they highlight the vital role of public diplomacy in today’s society as a powerful tool for opposing misinformation, polarization and hatred.The Handbook on Public Diplomacy is a vital resource for students and scholars of international relations, public policy, terrorism and security. Combining academic and practitioner views on the subject, it is also an important read for diplomats seeking deeper insight into the field.

This comprehensive Handbook explores how coalition governments function, from their creation to their dissolution, examining the challenges and opportunities they present in modern democracies. Drawing on the latest research, contributing authors outline the impact of institutions, voter behaviour and party dynamics in shaping coalition politics.Leading experts discuss the coalition life cycle, analysing how political parties negotiate to form coalitions, divide responsibilities and spoils of office, govern together and then eventually face decisions about ending their partnership. Chapters investigate empirical findings and case studies from diverse political systems across Europe, and assess the role of coalitions in parliamentary, presidential and semi-presidential systems. They highlight the ways in which methodological innovations including text analysis, agent-based modelling and new statistical techniques have transformed our understanding of coalition politics. Ultimately, the Handbook sheds light on how coalitions are managed in a fragmented political landscape where ideological differences and the rise of populist parties make governing together increasingly complex.Scholars and students of comparative political science, public policy, European and international politics and legislative studies will greatly benefit from this illuminating Handbook. Combining academic theory with real-world practice, it is also a crucial resource for practitioners and policymakers working in regulation and governance, public administration and leadership.

This comprehensive Handbook examines relationships between religion and international relations, mainly focusing on several world religions - Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism. Providing a timely update on this understudied topic, it evaluates how this complex relationship has evolved over the last four decades, looking at a variety of political contexts, regions and countries.Original chapters analyse how varying religions shape people’s attitudes towards the organisation and operations of political systems worldwide. As well as investigating core issues and topics such as religion, foreign policy, terrorism and international security, the Handbook also provides clarity on topical and controversial issues such as Islamist extremism, Hindu nationalism and Christian civilisationism. Top international contributors offer further analysis via important case studies of religion and international relations across the globe.Providing crucial information, this Handbook will be an excellent resource for higher-level students and researchers of religious studies, international relations and politics, as well as policy makers and professionals from a variety of backgrounds and orientations.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach to the dynamics of political and economic decentralization in contemporary regimes, this comprehensive Handbook offers a critical examination of how the decentralization of governance affects citizen well-being.Expert contributors provide an analysis of theoretical developments and empirical approaches in the study of decentralization, exploring how decentralization is conceptualized and measured. Chapters examine central topics including how the degree and type of decentralization varies over time and across countries, how political decentralization affects the behaviour of parties and voters, and the social and economic consequences of decentralizing power. Offering a comparative perspective, the Handbook utilizes insightful international case studies from Latin America, North America, Western Europe and Asia. Attention is also paid to the impact of the Great Recession of 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic on intergovernmental relations. This Handbook will be a valuable resource for scholars and students of political geography and geopolitics, regulation and governance, and international politics. It will also be useful for practitioners in these fields who are interested in decentralization.

This timely Research Handbook provides novel insights into the institutional complexities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Through a defined focus on the post-Cold War evolution of NATO, it provides various theoretical perspectives on the Alliance and assesses wider research efforts within NATO studies.Written by thirty renowned international scholars and practitioners, chapters provide multidisciplinary insights into NATO’s legal and political developments. They examine existing research ventures within NATO scholarship, as well as potential future methodological advancements. The Research Handbook looks closely at NATO’s political and military decision-making, its principles of governance and its key fields of action. It additionally offers a significant analysis of the organization’s stability and cohesion.This comprehensive Research Handbook will be important for academics studying law, politics and international relations surveying the intricacies of regional organizations. It will be particularly beneficial for NATO practitioners and for researchers endeavouring to further the field of NATO studies.