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Why do some countries construct strong systems of social protection, while others leave workers exposed to market forces? One of the most robust findings of the comparative political economy literature is the claim that the more political resources are controlled by the left, the more likely a country is to have generous, universal welfare states. In contrast, this book argues, through in-depth case studies of Portugal and Spain, that the strength of the far left is an important and overlooked determinant of social protection outcomes.

Terraced agricultural landscapes in Africa are remarkable feats of human engineering and social organization, enabling the conservation of soil and water and the cultivation of food. Indigenous terraced landscapes are all the more valuable because they have been produced by the people themselves and maintained for several hundred years, evidencing a valuable degree of sustainability. Yet until this book, there have been few accounts of how such landscapes in Africa are produced and maintained over time. Taking a period of approximately a hundred years, 'Living Terraces' is both an ethnography and history of the terraces of Konso in southern Ethiopia. It traces the way Konso agriculture and landscape has been produced and managed in close relationship with broader changes in Konso political and cultural lives. In shedding new light on the relationships between landscapes, livelihoods, culture and development, the book demonstrates the embeddedness of social institutions in areas of social, cultural, religious and political life, showing that social institutions cannot easily be abstracted, replicated or used instrumentally for development purposes. The result is a call for an approach to social institutions, so vital to development, which centralizes a study of culture, history and power in the analysis. ELIZABETH E. WATSON is a Lecturer in the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge

Develop what it takes to make things happen : assume responsibility, initiate action, accept the consequences -- Make the most of who you are : understand yourself, accept yourself, be yourself -- Sharpen your thinking skills : see beyond the obvious, pay attention to your surroundings, anticipate consequences and outcomes -- Be the kind of person others want to be around : value feelings, treat others with dignity, be an encourager -- Break the chains of mindless routine : exercise your imagination, turn failures and mistakes into lessons, rise above mediocrity -- Become an effective learner and continue learning : be curious, reflect on your observations, expose your mind to new ideas -- Master the art of self-discipline : assess your actions honestly, cause your emotions to work for you, learn to make favorable impressions -- Act with integrity : know good from evil, right from wrong, defeat self-centeredness, pursue the good and right wholeheartedly -- Be of service to others : rise above indifference, have an ultimate concern that goes beyond your self, serve others generously