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'Green Politics in Japan' by Peng-Er Lam is reviewed.

'Interpreting Indonesian Politics' by Leo Suryadinata is reviewed.

The paper examines the role of meso-level governance in the Hungarian political system focusing on the county self-governments. The objective of the author is to introduce the consequences of the lack of meso-level politics for the backslide of the democratic system. The paper focusing on Hungarian counties seeks to explore the three-decade-long process leading to the progressive elimination of these bodies from the public power arena. The Hungarian case demonstrates how the overall administrative and political centralisation process has contributed to the hollowing-out of meso-level political actors. The Hungarian case study underlines the complex interrelations between the macro-political system, and the territorial political governmental arenas from the aspect of the centre and periphery power relations. Many European regional governments are not only platforms for territorial interest representation but also a counterweight to the central level contributing to the quality and stability of democratic governance. The study reviewing the situation of Hungarian counties draws on the author's previous empirical research experiences and is a part of the ongoing research on governance issues of peripheral areas1. The results of the analyses discuss the implications of the hollowing-out of county governments on the electoral and party system, the modification of the institutional channels of interest representation. The Hungarian example appears to corroborate the analogy with the theory of second order elections. The theory of second order elections recognized the impact on the turnout and electoral preferences based on the changing role of different governance levels, by the same token, it seems that the weakening power position of the meso contributes to the decline of political competition and publicity by minimizing the interest of the public in general. The objective of the present study is to enrich the assessment of the relationship between territorial governance and democracy with some analytical options by demonstrating the implications of the "second order nature" of the meso.

First published 1986, The Perversity of Politics talks about the perverse nature of political behaviour. Highly paradoxical, the seeking of advantage is of dual character, consisting not only in the spoils of conquest but in the rewards of co-operation. These two facets of politics pose the perennial question of why co-operation's inviting prospects have never yet immunized politics- domestic and international- against the perils and sacrifices of conflict. The book finds an answer in the notion of the power overtone. Quest for security, more than immediate gratification, involves maneuver by individuals and groups for future freedom of action. The perversity of politics is heightened by sources of conflict that defy ultimate solution. Of ancient vintage is the uneasy relationship of attraction and repulsion between religion and state, each side uncertain as to where advantage lies. Nor is perversity dispelled by the social sciences, themselves caught in the dogmatics of nature versus nature, typified in the fundamentally different approaches to governance by James Madison and Karl Marx. Citing the American experience in particular the final chapter contends that democratic government is best designed to abate the power overtone and to mitigate conflict. This is a must read for students of political studies and political sociology.

Chapter 1: Introduction -- Chapter 2: Democracy with an 'E' -- Chapter 3: The Enlightenment & Beyond -- Chapter 4: Representative Democracy & Crisis -- Chapter 5: The Public Sphere & Global Capital -- Chapter 6: Deliberative Democracy -- Chapter 7: Therorising the Cyberdemocratic Terrain -- Chapter 8: Civic Engagement & the Privitisation of the Public Sphere -- Chapter 9: The Westminster Model: Points & Issues -- Chapter 10: Cyberdemocracy and the Public Sphere -- Chapter 11: The Cyberdemocratic Future: Some Final Thoughts.

Cover -- Introduction: Conflict and Hope -- Chapter 1: Northern Africa -- Chapter 2: Western Africa -- Chapter 3: Central Africa -- Chapter 4: Eastern Africa -- Chapter 5: Southern Africa -- Chapter 6: The Future of War and Terrorism in Africa -- Regional Map of Africa -- Chronology -- Glossary -- Further Information -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the Author

The problem of "Realism in Foreign Policy" is a special manifistation of a general philosophic and intellectual problem which has been with us almost since the beginning of Western civilization. There are two fundamental attitudes that a man can take toward a political problem and a social problem in general. Either he can start with the assumption that this problem is the result of some historic incident, of some faulty institution or deficient social arrangement, and that by changing this arrangement of by transforming the institution that is, by bringing about some kind of reform the problem can be solved once and for all.

A review essay on a book by Donald MacKenzie, Inventing Accuracy: A Historical Sociology of Nuclear Missile Guidance (Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1990 [see listing in IRPS No. 69]). The book, based on 140 interviews with politicians & engineers in the US nuclear arms community, is applauded for its readability & demystification of conventionally technical issues. MacKenzie disputes the accuracy of expert technical facts (eg, missile targeting), & offers a counterargument to the technological determinism of continued arms production. He approaches the existing model of technology-influencing politics with a demonstration of the social construction of technology in a technically uncertain environment. 14 References. Adapted from the source document.

Recognizing the vital importance of concepts in shaping our understanding of international relations, this ground-breaking new book puts concepts front and centre, systematically unpacking them in a clear, critical and engaging way. With contributions from some of the foremost authorities in the field, Concepts in World Politics explores 17 core concepts, from democracy to globalization, sovereignty to revolution, and covers:. The multiple meanings of a concept, where these meanings come from, and how they are employed theoretically and practically. The consequences of using concepts to frame the world in one way or another. The method of concept analysis A challenging and stimulating read, Concepts in World Politics is an indispensable guide for all students of international relations looking to develop a more nuanced and sophisticated ...

Agrowing number of scholars have sought to re-centre emotions in our study of international politics, however an overarching book on how emotions matter to the study of politics and war is yet to be published. This volumeis aimed at filling that gap, proceeding from the assumption that a nuanced understanding of emotions can only enhance our engagement with contemporary conflict and war. Providinga range of perspectivesfrom a diversity of methodological approaches on the conditions, maintenance and interpretation of emotions, the contributors interrogate the multiple ways in which emotions function and matter to the study of global politics. Accordingly, the innovative contribution of this volume is its specific engagement with the role of emotions and constitution of emotional subjects in a range of different contexts of politics and war, including the gendered nature of war and security; war traumas; post-conflict reconstruction; and counterinsurgency operations. Looking at how we analyse emotions in war, why it matters, and what emotions doin global politics, this volume will be of interest to students and scholars of critical security studies and international relations alike.