Politics

In a world of increasingly fractious debate and seemingly irreconcilable differences, whether at the level of public political discourse or in the much-reported culture wars, this book makes an unheard case for argument as a force for good. Daniel Taub was a lead negotiator in the Israel-Palestine peace process and then served as Israel's ambassador to the UK, and in this new book he pulls together telling insights from being at the table for some of the world's most fraught negotiations, applied hints and tips from the lectures and Difficult Conversations labs he now presents at universities and businesses in Israel, the US and the UK. This is all underpinned by a deep understanding of Jewish thought which, he argues, holds the key to a completely different understanding of how a good argument should develop the thinking of all those involved, and can lead to harmony rather than discord. This is an intriguing popular non-fiction title with much for all of us to learn from Daniel's diplomatic and political insights, his negotiation techniques, and from his repackaging of ancient wisdom presented in a readily comprehensible form. Comparisons include Jonathan Haidt, Simon Sinek, David Brooks.

Why the World Doesn’t Make Sense: Reclaiming the Liberty You Didn’t Know You Lost by Christine Menedis is a provocative call to action, challenging readers to confront the forces shaping our future and reclaim their freedom and independence in a rapidly changing world.Why the World Doesn’t Make Sense is a compelling exploration of the hidden forces undermining personal freedom and sovereignty in today’s world. Christine Menedis, an early bitcoiner and veteran entrepreneur, reveals how ordinary citizens are unknowingly surrendering control over their lives to an intricate web of government systems, financial institutions, and global organizations. In a world that increasingly values conformity over independence, Menedis challenges readers to question the status quo and regain the liberty they may not even realize has slipped away. With deep historical insights and thoughtful guidance, Menedis examines how global powers wield influence through money, digital tools, and media narratives. She explores the subtle yet powerful forces that shape our economic and political systems, drawing connections between the rise of centralized control and the erosion of strong individuals. She breaks down complex issues in an accessible way, from the evolution of money to the steady creep of surveillance, giving readers the tools to understand and resist these trends. Grounded in both philosophy and modern-day realities, Why the World Doesn’t Make Sense is both a wake-up call and a road map for readers who feel disoriented in a world of contradictions. Menedis’s call to action empowers readers to reclaim their independence, challenge centralized power, and defend their own sense of liberty in an era of unprecedented global influence.

A contemporary exploration of peace and conflict studies that is both broad and critical.

Citizens' assemblies bring the shared wisdom of ordinary people into political decision making on the climate and ecological crisis. They are increasingly being used at local, national and even global levels. But with what impact? Can they take us beyond the shortcomings of electoral and partisan politics? Can they make a real difference? This book explains why climate assemblies have captured the imagination of governments and activists alike, exploring the ways they can have a meaningful impact on climate politics.This book charts the development of climate assemblies across Europe and beyond. It explores what ordinary people want, highlighting the ways in which assembly recommendations take us beyond current government policies and offer new visions and directions for change. It shows that not all assemblies are the same and that the context and design of climate assemblies have differed quite profoundly - as have their impacts on policy and public discourse. The book also lays out the key elements needed for climate assemblies to have sustained impact, providing essential insights for anyone wanting to run or advocate for them, and concludes with reflections on what we can expect from assemblies as they evolve.The transition to net zero and climate resilient societies requires deep social and economic transformations that will have significant impacts on citizens' choices and behaviours. Such a transition needs to engage the public directly and this book shows how climate assemblies can achieve this, allowing us to address the issues we all face together.

The EU's international environment is increasingly characterized by power politics, great-power rivalry, ideological contestation and war. This has challenged the liberal-internationalist identity that has been at the heart of the EU since its birth. This book examines how the EU has responded to these new realities. It analyses the introduction of a flurry of concepts including European sovereignty, strategic autonomy, civilization, responsibility and strategic compass, and asks whether these signal a reconsideration of foreign policy objectives, a new strategic orientation or possibly a paradigm shift. The book develops a theoretical framework on policy paradigms, worldviews, grand strategy, strategic narratives and the drivers of institutional change followed by chapters on the anti-liberal challenge, the evolution of the EU framework of ideas, the search for grand strategy and strategic autonomy, the response to Russian aggression and imperial thinking, and continuity and change in EU unity, working groups, green leadership and strategic communication.

"With a distinctive theoretical framework combining Aristotle, Marx, and MacIntyre, the essays in this volume ask how the forms of artificial intelligence and technologies of automation in digital capitalism affect human flourishing, and what meaningful work looks like under these conditions. The volume contains eight essays from scholars in the UK, Europe and USA, specializing in the philosophical and ethical dimensions of technology and political theory. This timely and novel intervention in the automation debate will appeal to those in philosophy, politics, literary and cultural studies interested in new technologies both from the perspective of normative ethics and the critique of political economy"--