Driven by foreign investments and exports, the economies of many East Asian countries have seen dramatic growth—but North Korea has lagged behind. Why? What are the country's prospects for development? In what ways do its external relations affect its domestic economy? To answer these questions, the authors of The Political Economy of North Korea delve deeply into the economic    More >

Does Alaska's reliance on oil and gas mean that it inevitably will be controlled by corporate energy interests? Or can the state use its vast resource holdings to manage a more symmetrical partnership? The Political Economy of Oil in Alaska investigates the complex relationship Alaska has with its most precious commodity. Offering a new perspective on the challenges of oil-dependent    More >

In the face of increasing economic globalization, the countries of southern Africa have made commitments to enhanced regional development and the integration of their economies. Margaret Lee examines the challenges to regionalism in southern Africa, providing a critical assessment of the prospects for successful implementation.   Lee's detailed study of the processes driving (or inhibiting)    More >

Although more than a little controversial, Mary Kaldor's academic work and ideas have both stimulated and influenced debate in the Pentagon, the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, and beyond. How did this come about? And how did Kaldor reach the conclusions outlined in her seminal books? Melinda Rankin traces the evolution of Kaldor's work, revealing how her thinking developed    More >

An anthology evaluates programs to reduce crime and disorder related to alcohol and drug abuse in pubs, nightclubs, parks and elsewhere. Case studies are presented from Australia, Europe and North America.    More >

With Latin America home to some of the most draconian bans on abortion in the world, abortion rights is one of the most controversial and hotly contested topics in Latin American politics today. Jane Marcus-Delgado explores the ways in which key actors—from politicians to grassroots activists to the global community—participate and shape strategies in the ongoing    More >

Why do some African states commit more effectively than others to the fight against AIDS? How do power inequalities and decisionmaking institutions shape Africa's ability to combat the disease? Within the context of debates about the nature of the African state, its relations with civil society, and its reliance on external donors, Amy Patterson presents a systematic study of African state    More >

Nandini Deo and Duncan McDuie-Ra explore India's vibrant civil society sector, focusing on the ways that it actually operates "on the ground." Offering an insightful analysis, they identify what influences the relative success or failure of various movements; and the tools that activists use to overcome obstacles; the traps that often derail efforts to frame, politicize, and    More >

What kind of democracy will emerge in Mexico when the current levels of violence are brought under control? Will democratic reformers gain strength in the new equilibrium between government and criminal organizations? Or will corruption tilt the balance toward criminal interests? In the context of these questions, John Bailey explores the "security trap" in which Mexico is currently    More >

In comparison to democratic political systems, we know very little about how dictatorships work. Who are the key political actors? Where does the locus of power rest? What determines leadership behavior—and survival? Erica Frantz and Natasha Ezrow argue that dictatorships are not regimes driven by the whims of a single individual. Frantz and Ezrow reveal how leader-elite relations are    More >