Books on the topic 'Socio economic interests'

In the context of the reform of modern Russian society, issues related to strengthening the entire national security system and, first of all, economic security, focused on ensuring stable economic development of society and the state, their protection from current threats and risks, are of particular importance. Ensuring the interests of the country is based on the types of economic security that determine the integral development of the socio-economic space of Russia. The monograph outlines the essence, content, practical provisions of such aspects of the economic security of society and the state as food, environmental, social, monetary, tax, etc. The system of indicators, indicators and thresholds of various types of economic security is considered. Particular attention is paid to the forecast of the dynamics of key economic indicators of economic security in the medium term. The main directions of increasing the effectiveness of the mechanism for ensuring economic security in a market economy are shown. For a wide range of readers interested in the economic security of Russia. It will be useful for students, postgraduates and teachers of economic universities.

The textbook presents the course of history of economic doctrines in accordance with the General plan of previous editions. Discusses the economic doctrine of the era of pre-market economy (including the economic thought of the Ancient world and middle Ages), mercantilism, classical political economy, socio-economic reform projects of economic romanticism, utopian socialism, German historical school, marginalism. To the era of regulated market relations are covered in the textbook socio-institutional direction, the theory of market with imperfect competition, Keynesian Economics, neoliberalism, the concept of the neoclassical synthesis, neo-institutionalism, the phenomenon of the Russian school of economic thought. Special attention is given to synthesis as the basis of modern theories of value. Meets the requirements of Federal state educational standards of higher education of the last generation. For students enrolled in the specialty 38.03.01 "Economics", graduate students, researchers and anyone interested in the history of world and domestic economic thought.

The monograph is devoted to studying the process of implementation of modernization projects of the RCP(b) - VKP(b) 1920-1930-ies in the context of intra-party struggle for power. A lack of managerial experience in the leadership of the country, declared utopian ideas, the bureaucratization of the party-state apparatus and the commitment to radical ways of solving problems gave rise to political and socio-economic crises affect the results. Revealed the limits of the political life of leaders of the ruling party in the implementation of the political-administrative projects considered as a series of unjustified social and economic experiments, criticized the concept of the Soviet state as an apparatus of violence in the interests of the world proletarian revolution. Intended for specialists in the history of Soviet Russia of the twentieth century, University professors, and for anyone interested in Russian history.

The monograph is devoted to the place and role of ecology and environmental safety in ensuring sustainable socio-economic development of society. In the conditions of the forced transition of the economies of the leading countries of the world from an industrial type to a new formation of a green economy aimed at ensuring the preservation of ecological systems and the maximum reduction of damage to the biodiversity of ecological systems, the Russian Federation faces the task of forming a new course of socio-economic development of society focused on the preservation of natural potential and ecology at a level normal for the maintenance of the vital activity of society, flora and fauna in the foreseeable future and in the long term. The role and importance of environmental safety in the system of ensuring the economic security of the state are outlined, the concept of the ideology of "Global Commons" in ensuring sustainable socio-economic development of society is considered, the problems and prospects of the implementation of the program "Green Course of Russia" are analyzed, special aspects of environmental audit, accounting and control, damage assessment in the field of ecology are investigated. Special attention is paid to the forecast of the dynamics of key environmental indicators for the medium term. The main directions of increasing the effectiveness of the mechanism for ensuring environmental safety in a market economy are proposed. For a wide range of readers interested in environmental economics. It will be useful for students, postgraduates and teachers of economic universities.

The monograph reveals the System as a way of development of Russian society, as the balance of the whole and the parts at the macro-, meso - and micro-level, mathematical modeling of the System, freedom and justice, man as a factor of production human capital institutional framework for the development of Russian Systems of state and market regulation, improve planning and forecasting, digitalization, political institutions, social functions of the state, social capital, social trend, demography and family, motivation, labour and entrepreneurship, the institutions of labour market regulation, sustainable and dynamic development of the Russian System in the context of globalization. Of interest to researchers and practitioners, teachers, graduate students of economic specialties.

In the monograph, the region is presented as a complex, multilevel socio-economic system consisting of many heterogeneous, interacting economic entities of different levels (economic agents and markets, management, resources and economic processes), jointly organizing reproduction processes embedded in the economic space of the national economy on the local territory. Currently, the role of rational management of the socio-economic development of the region is increasing. In such conditions, it is advisable to use strategic planning, which, in turn, has increasingly been carried out using a simulation model. The simulation model in regional strategic planning allows government agencies to predict their activities in the presence of various controlled and uncontrolled factors of the external and internal environment. In this study, the list of principles of strategic planning focused on the processes of strategic planning of the region using the method of simulation modeling is supplemented. A methodology for organizing strategic planning processes at the meso-level using simulation modeling technology is proposed. For a wide range of readers interested in the problems of regional strategic planning.

The monograph of the Russian American historian is devoted to a number of conceptual problems of US foreign policy in the period of early globalization (late XIX-early XX century). The significance of the socio-economic factor is reinterpreted from the standpoint of modern theory and methodology; the role of the ideology used by the political elite to justify American expansion is traced. New interpretations of the causes and consequences of the Spanish-American war of 1898 are given: for the first time, the place of the "yellow" press in inciting anti-Spanish sentiment among ordinary Americans is shown in detail as one of the first manifestations of successful manipulation of public opinion; the level of combat capability of the American army, which achieved victory over a weaker enemy, but was unprepared to conduct an armed struggle for achieving geopolitical interests with leading European powers, is critically assessed. The archival material, first introduced into scientific circulation, traces the mediation activities of President Roosevelt As the first successful experience in the peaceful settlement of regional conflicts, and also shows the search by top officials for a new world order under the auspices of the United States, with an emphasis on the use of the principles of international arbitration. It is addressed to researchers, teachers, and students interested in the history of the United States.

From the point of view of the new science of globalism, the problems of the ecological, socio-economic state of the world and countries are considered through the prism of the interaction of the human psyche and society and the inhabited world. The criteria of ecological civilization of countries and peoples are justified. Optimizing the consumption of natural bio-and energy resources is becoming a fundamental environmental factor for sustainable development. The "Law of the maximum for humanity" as the law of the biosphere can be the arbitration court, the neutral force that will explain the historical need for mutual understanding, taking into account the interests of ecology and economy for the survival of man as a biovid on Earth; a new reality will begin to form — the phenomenon of co-residence of the world society with the biosphere. The world's population, its energy and bio-consumption, as well as all living matter on the planet, must correspond to the biological capacity of the Earth and not go beyond its boundaries. The task of the society is to implement a worldview breakthrough at the current stage of development, its own cultural mutation, which in the future will create the basis for adaptive technological and socio-cultural development. The task is to classify the entire Earth as a "Green Book" and to solve systemic environmental problems of a global nature. An integral part of sustainable development should be the principle of "vital consumption" at both the personal and social level, instead of the dominant principle of"expanded production and consumption". The indicator of the" culture of consumption "of natural resources, both at the individual level and at the level of society, should be included as an integral part of the integral indicator in the "True Indicator of Progress" and the "Human Development Index". The book is interdisciplinary in nature; it is a kind of scientific and philosophical poetic essay intended for teachers and students of universities in the field of sociology, ecology, biology and related fields, as well as for everyone who cares about the future of society.

The textbook shows the evolution of the economy, socio-political institutions and culture, the foreign policy situation of Russia from the IX century to the present. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. It is intended for undergraduate students of non-historical universities and anyone interested in Russian history.

The monograph is devoted to the problem of studying the transformation of social institutions in Russian society. The current state of society is characterized by dynamic processes developing in it. This applies to all levels and elements of such education. A significant condition for their course is the purposefulness and systematic influence of interested social structures. In the context of specific historical and landscape-geographical conditions, these are Federal and regional public authorities that exercise their powers within the framework of the official management system. The most effective implementation of the relevant competencies is possible through social management, taking into account the needs of the population, which are expressed through current socio-economic problems. For students and teachers, as well as anyone interested in the sociology of social change.

The monograph highlights the main stages of the formation and development of the dynasty of Irkutsk merchants Sibiryakovs, the participation of its representatives in the life of the region in the context of modernization processes that took place in the country as a whole and in Siberia in particular. The multifaceted entrepreneurial, social, research and charitable activities of all generations of the Sibiryakovs in the Siberian region in the period from the XVIII to the XX century are considered within the framework of local history. The author analyzes the structure of the dynasty, the order and rules of inheritance of property, the system of family ties, individual and group social and economic mobility, social functions of the sexes, socio-political and cultural representations, formal and informal means of influence within the family, the economic activity of the dynasty as a whole. It is addressed to teachers, methodologists, students of historical faculties, everyone who is interested in the history of Siberia. The materials and main provisions of this research can be used in the preparation of educational and methodological manuals, for the development of special courses on the history of the region and the creation of generalizing works on the economic development of Siberia, programs on historical and local history, economic and cultural education, patriotic education of the younger generation.

The textbook is devoted to the constitutional-legal framework (the concept, historical features of formation and development of constitutional system of Russia, its political, socio-economic and spiritual foundations, the concept, essence, content and purpose of the constitutional security as a legal expression of national security) and the system of ensuring national security of the Russian Federation, expressed in the state (consisting of activities of public authorities and other state authorities in ensuring national security) and private (characterized by the participation of citizens and their associations and other organizations in ensuring national security) of its subsystems. Meets the requirements of Federal state educational standards of higher education of the last generation. For students, graduates, teachers, professionals in the field of constitutional law and national security practitioners as well as for a wide circle of readers interested in issues of national security.

The monograph presents an extensive study of new forms of labor organization in the context of the development of technical, technological, financial, economic and socio-cultural factors. The distinctive features of digital labor platforms, their classification, as well as the strategies of key players in the global and Russian-speaking distance labor markets are given. Based on the analysis of current international analytical reviews, foreign and domestic scientific publications, current legislation and court decisions, the author gives approaches and methods of regulatory regulation of platform labor. The author does not ignore such controversial issues as: direct and indirect methods of state influence on the activities of digital labor platforms, problems of social responsibility, as well as prospects for the development of platform cooperativism in the world and Russia as an alternative to labor platforms focused on the global level. It is of interest to researchers, government authorities, teachers of higher educational institutions, graduate students and students studying these problems.

The textbook is devoted to the constitutional and legal basis (the concept, historical features of the formation and development of the constitutional system of Russia, its political, socio-economic and spiritual foundations, the concept, essence, content and purpose of constitutional security as a legal expression of national security) and the system of ensuring national security of the Russian Federation, expressed in the state (consisting of the activities of state bodies government and other state bodies to ensure national security) and non-state (characterized by the participation of citizens and their associations and other organizations in ensuring national security) its subsystems. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. For students, postgraduates, teachers, specialists in the field of constitutional law and national security law, practitioners, as well as for a wide range of readers interested in the problems of ensuring national security.

The monograph first examines American public opinion as a major factor of social and political life in the period of the maturing of the Civil war (1861-1865 gg.). Special value it is given by the study of the struggle in the South and in the North, consideration of the process of formation of two socio-cultural models. On the wide canvas of the socio-economic and political history in the monograph analyses the state and development of public opinion in the United States, sequentially from the compromise of 1850, a small civil war in Kansas, the uprising of John brown, of the maturing of "inevitable conflict," the secession of the southern States to the formation of the southern Confederacy and the Civil war. Reveals a fierce struggle, which was accompanied by the adoption of the compromise Kansas-Nebraska and the Supreme court decision in the Dred Scott case of 1857, which annulled the action of the famous Missouri compromise. Special attention is paid to the formation of the Republican party and the presidential elections of 1856 and 1860 Shown, as were incitement to hatred between citizens of the same country, which were used propaganda and manipulative techniques. The totality of facts gleaned from primary sources, especially the materials about these manipulations give an opportunity to look behind the scenes politics that led to the outbreak of the Civil war in the United States, a deeper understanding of its causes. For students of historical faculties and departments of sociology and political Sciences, and anyone interested in American history.

This monograph is devoted to the problems of social transformations in modern Russian society, which cover the labor market, forming an extensive socio-professional group of self-employed people with physical and mental labor. The self-employed in the shadow market transform the social structure, forming a specific class, which is characterized by its own original class culture, class norms of behavior, values, and lifestyle. The class character of this professional group marks archaic trends in stratification in the modern Russian Federation and can serve as the basis for the revival of the old traditional urban class — philistinism — in Russia. It is intended for bachelors, masters, postgraduates studying in the areas of "Management", "Sociology", "Economics", "State and Municipal Management", "Personnel Management", as well as for a wide range of readers interested in social transformations in the modern world, social processes of archaization, the formation of class structures and social processes in informal employment markets.

The monograph contains the results of research concerning, firstly, the ecosystem as a response to the challenges of the XXI century. Secondly, the problems of labor longevity and success in organizations that form an ecosystem approach to working with personnel, including through the use in practice of biomedical factors, socio-economic conditions, nagging as a "soft power" to push older workers to productive work. Thirdly, the realities and problems of combining work and private life, studied from several positions. Among them: the formation of corporate policy, corporate interest, professional orientation; the actual balance of "work — private life", as well as the optimization of labor behavior through the formation of a sense of self-esteem in the workplace, the management of employees ' experience. Fourth, systematization of the results of the health management study, taking into account the experience gained during the coronavirus pandemic — occupational safety management, health promotion in the organization, including the situation of self-isolation. Fifth, the concept of compliance in the personnel management system. For students, undergraduates, postgraduates, doctoral students, researchers studying or conducting research in the field of personnel management, as well as the teaching staff of universities and employers.

The textbook examines the processes of the emergence and development of English colonies in North America in the XVII-XVIII centuries, as well as the process of formation and formation of the young American state. Considerable attention is paid to socio-economic processes, the study of which makes it possible to more fully consider political and legal trends and features. The political structure of the colonies is described in detail, and the colonial charters are analyzed. The article covers the first North American revolution, analyzes the political programs and activities of the first American political groups and their leaders. The process of drafting and ratifying the Constitution of 1787 is considered in detail, its content and the political activities of the first American presidents are analyzed. A separate chapter is devoted to the development of law in the XVII-XVIII centuries. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. It is addressed to law students studying the history of state and law, as well as the constitutional law of foreign countries, historical students specializing in the study of US history, as well as students studying international relations, and anyone interested in history.

The monograph examines the period in the history of the United States immediately preceding the Civil War of 1861-1865. The problem that is at the center of the author's attention is the public opinion of Americans on the most important domestic political issues. The paper analyzes the influence of the newspaper "New York Tribune" on the formation of views, opinions and preferences of Americans. For the first time in Russian American studies, a thorough analysis of the leading periodical of the pre-war period is given, the composition of the editorial staff and the views of journalists are described in detail. Special attention is paid to the founder and publisher of "Tribune" Horace Greeley. The monograph examines both socio-economic problems and the party-political struggle. The most important compromise measures, the Civil War in Kansas, the presidential elections of 1856 and 1860 are evaluated through the prism of the comments of the New York Tribune and at the same time through the perception of its readers. As a result, the monograph creates a multicolored palette of opinions of North Americans, their perception of the situation in the country on the eve of the Civil War. This allows us to expand and deepen our understanding of the causes of the second North American revolution. For professionals, students, and anyone interested in the problems of history.

This is one of key chapters of the book presenting the argument of partisan government. This chapter interrogates the subnational variation in labour reforms through partisan governments and suggests regional political economy as critical to shaping orientation of partisan governments. It critically analyses the existing party-based interpretation of reform and shows that it is the instrumental interest assuaging the interests of support base that explain government orientation to labour reform. Through a caste/class analysis of political parties, the chapter highlights that significant business support and socio-economically homogeneous dominant support base characterize states with greater market flexibility. In contrast, when the dominant support base of party is heterogeneous and wide, the pace of reform is significantly muted. Partisan configuration—the socio-economic support base of government—determines not only the orientation of policies but also the interrelation between government and various interest groups in society.

Peculiarities of Ukraine's economic development in recent years are characterized by the process of systemic institutional transformation. Deep economic changes are taking place, new approaches to economic management are being actively formed, market management methods are being improved, European integration processes are being implemented, and Ukrainian legislation is being adapted and changed in accordance with the EU regulatory framework. The complexity and contradictions of modern transformation processes, the urgency of solving these and other problems determines the relevance and application of their comprehensive study and objective economic and legal assessment. The current challenges and unfolding of the new global economic crisis in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic require a rethinking of the ongoing socio-economic processes and the adoption of adaptive or, in some cases, radical decisions in governing the country and protecting its national interests. The conference proceedings are aimed at scientists, graduate students and students of economic specialties of higher education institutions, as well as specialists of economic departments of enterprises and organizations.

The chapter discusses the party system in the macro context of politics. It highlights the limitations of political party and interest group analysis without reference to the political competition that shapes behaviour in politics. The chapter discusses theoretically the impact of party system on labour market flexibility and proceeds to show the interrelation between party competition and the behaviour of political parties, composition of socio-economic support bases, and the behaviour of interest groups that influence reform. In the context of labour market flexibility, the party-system operates as an intermediate variable facilitating reforms. The chapter contradicts the conventional notion that party system fragmentation impedes reform by showing how increasing party competition corresponds to greater labour market reforms. It shows that increases in the number of parties, facilitates labour market reforms through marginalization of the issue of labour, realignment of class interests within broader society and fragmentation of trade union movement.

This chapter focuses on the main factors driving investment treaty policy-making in developed countries. This can only be done based on an understanding of the changing socio-economic environment for foreign investments, and the chapter therefore provides significant historical context to the law and economics of the investment treaty regime. The chapter evaluates four potential explanations for why and how developed countries adopted investment treaties. These are: (i) the promotion of business interests; (ii) de-politicizing investment disputes; (iii) building customary international law; and (iv) using investment treaties for diplomatic and symbolic reasons. The chapter concludes by examining recent developments. These include the rise of investment treaty arbitration against developed country states themselves, which has prompted unprecedented political debate about investment treaties.

The monograph explores the problem of the role and boundaries of the political factor in the activities of the RSDLP(b)—RCP(b)—CPSU(b) in the 1917-1930s.during the socio-economic modernization of the RSFSR/USSR in the struggle for power in the top leadership of the ruling party, overcoming crisis situations, the growth of power of the party apparatus, internal party repression, protest moods of Russian citizens. On the basis of a complex of historical sources analysed programmes of the ruling party in the modernization of Russia the post-revolutionary period, which are checked for compliance with national interests in solving complex problems, "socialist" reforms, analyzed the complex processes of state-building in 1917-1930-ies identified problems of political and administrative resources of the ruling party. It is intended for specialists in the history of Russia of the XX century, University professors, as well as for all those interested in Russian history.

Titles in the Core Text series take the reader straight to the heart of the subject, providing focused, concise, and reliable guides for students at all levels. Land Law provides a reliable explanation of the key elements of this subject, making it an invaluable guide. The book sets land law in its socio-political and economic context, enabling students to examine this subject in depth. The topics it covers include fundamental concepts, possession and title, freehold and leasehold ownership, and easements and profits à prendre. The book also looks at security interests, beneficial ownership, dealings, modes of acquisition, privacy, and public regulation of land.

Markesinis and Deakin’s Tort Law, now in its 8th edition, provides a general overview of the law and discussion of the academic debates on all major topics, highlighting the relationship between the common law, legislation, and judicial policy. In addition, the book provides a variety of comparative and economic perspectives on the law of tort and its likely development, always placing the subject in its socio-economic context, thereby giving students a deep understanding of tort law. The book is composed of eight parts. Part I starts by setting the scene, Part II looks at the tort of negligence. Part III turns to special forms of negligence. This is followed by Part IV which examines interference with the person. Part V turns to intentional interferences with economic interests. The next part looks at stricter forms of liability. Part VII examines the protection of human dignity which includes looking at defamation and injurious falsehood, and human privacy. The last part looks at defences and remedies.

Markesinis and Deakin’s Tort Law, now in its 7th edition, provides a general overview of the law and discussion of the academic debates on all major topics, highlighting the relationship between the common law, legislation, and judicial policy. In addition, the book provides a variety of comparative and economic perspectives on the law of tort and its likely development, always placing the subject in its socio-economic context, thereby giving students a deep understanding of tort law. The book is composed of eight parts. Part I starts by setting the scene, Part II looks at the tort of negligence. Part III turns to special forms of negligence. This is followed by Part IV which examines interference with the person. Part V turns to intentional interferences with economic interests. The next part looks at stricter forms of liability. Part VII examines the protection of human dignity which includes looking at defamation and injurious falsehood and human privacy. The last part looks at defences and remedies.

This chapter looks into the historical evolution of the relationship between the Indian state and the Indian diaspora to explain both the nature of the diaspora itself as well as the ways in which it has served to influence Indian foreign policy. Briefly tracing the complex history of colonial and post-colonial migrations, the chapter first makes the claim that despite a common origin, there exist very diverse emigrant communities with distinct political trajectories and socio-economic interests. Therefore, one should be cautious about framing the Indian diaspora as a unitary actor that has consciously and effectively shaped foreign policy. Beyond that, it also argues that despite specific moments when the concerns of the diaspora seemed to be prominent in foreign policy deliberations, the diaspora as a whole has been and continues to be marginal in the formulation of India’s foreign policy.

Globalization, as commonly understood, limits policy choices of a nation by creating structural and institutional constraints. This leads to an important question: are political actors still relevant in shaping policy in the interest of domestic socio-economic concerns? Locating labour as a critical political economy factor, essential for production and capable of political action, this book examines the political economy of labour reforms. Through a careful study of labour market reforms across subnational states of India, it draws attention to the continuing relevance of local politics in influencing public policy. Drawing on the evidence from the pairs of institutionally and economically alike states, Gujarat–Maharashtra and West Bengal–Andhra Pradesh, this book shows that despite pressures of convergence under conditions of globalization, reforms vary across states, depending on partisan governments, dynamics of interest group negotiations, and party competition. Using both qualitative and quantitative analyses, the book argues that ‘who governs’ matters for how globalization unfolds in any society, and that public policies continue to be nuanced, if not shaped, by politics. By analysing the labour policy in India, the book makes an important contribution to political economy research on transitional economies.

This edited volume provides a comprehensive overview of the major debates on the role of structural change in economic development. The book begins by recounting the intellectual history of the notion of structural change, providing a critical overview of the arguments that link structural change to growth and development, before outlining the main historical trends in structural change and structural transformation to build an empirical base for the assessment and analysis of structural change. This analysis lays the foundation for an analysis of the drivers and determinants of structural change, with factors including technological change, changes in demand, trade, policy, class interests, and pressure groups being considered. The final part of the book contributes to recent debates on inclusive growth, poverty reduction, income distribution, and the environment. Whether development benefits all members of society in a fair way is one of the most important issues in the development debate, with this volume contributing to the analysis of how structural change affects the inclusiveness and sustainability of socio-economic development.

Industrial policy has long been regarded as a strategy to encourage sector, industry, or economy-wide development by the state. It has been central to competitiveness, catching-up, and structural change in both advanced and developing countries. It has also been one of the most contested issues in economics, reflecting ideologically inflected debates and shifts in prevailing ideas. There has lately been a renewed interest in industrial policy in academic circles and international policy dialogues, prompted by the weak outcomes of policies pursued by many developing countries under the direction of the Washington Consensus (and its descendants), the slow economic recovery of many advanced economies after the 2008 global financial crisis, and mounting anxieties about the economic, social, and political consequences of globalization. The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Policy presents a comprehensive review of and novel approaches to the conceptual and theoretical foundations of industrial policy. The Handbook also presents analytical perspectives on how industrial policy connects to broader issues of development strategy, macroeconomic policies, infrastructure development, human capital, and political economy. By combining historical and theoretical perspectives and integrating conceptual issues with empirical evidence drawn from advanced, emerging, and developing countries, the Handbook offers valuable lessons and policy insights to policymakers, practitioners, and researchers on developing productive transformation, technological capabilities, and international competitiveness. It addresses pressing issues including climate change, the gendered dimensions of industrial policy, global governance, and technological change. Written by leading international thinkers on the subject, the volume pulls together different perspectives and schools of thoughts from neo-classical to structuralist development economists to discuss and highlight the adaptation of industrial policy in an ever-changing socio-economic and political landscape.

The conservation of environment and the protection of human rights are two of the most compelling needs of our time. Unfortunately, they are not always easy to combine and too often result in mutual harm. This book analyses the idea of biocultural rights as a proposal for harmonizing the needs of environmental and human rights. These rights, considered as a basket of group rights, are those deemed necessary to protect the stewardship role that certain indigenous peoples and local communities have played towards the environment. With a view to understanding the value and merits, as well as the threats that biocultural rights entail, the book critically assesses their foundations, content, and implications, and develops new perspectives and ideas concerning their potential applicability for promoting the socio-economic interests of indigenous people and local communities. It further explores the controversial relationship of interdependence and conflict between conservation of environment and protection of human rights.

What do we mean by rights, and can our use of the concept be justified? This book offers a partial vindication of the concept of a right, defending its use in relation to human rights while questioning it in relation to property. It starts with a new ‘Addressive’ account of the nature of rights as bringing together duty-bearer and right-holder first-personally—a theory which moves beyond and complements traditional Interest and Will Theories. This Addressive account implies that a right exists pre-institutionally (as a ‘natural’ or ‘moral’ right) only when a duty owes its existence predominantly to the right-holder’s good. On this basis, the book defends human rights law and practice as justifiably institutionalizing certain pre-legal moral rights held against other individuals and the state, including socio-economic rights. This defence proceeds independently of whichever conception of ‘the important human features’ (e.g. agency, capabilities, freedoms, interests, needs) one takes to underpin human rights—though it does depend on a distinction between individual and other goods. The book ends by arguing that for much property, conceiving the relevant duties in rights terms can mislead us into overlooking their foundation in the collective good. An alternative non-rights property system—broadly resembling modern markets but not conceived in terms of rights—is outlined. The result is a defence of the rights concept that is more supportive of human rights than many of their critics (from left or right) might expect, while pressing new doubts about much property as an individual right.

The book provides the first in-depth and empirically grounded analysis on the foundations and trajectories of gaining authority of the four Latin American and Caribbean regional economic courts: the Central American Court of Justice (CACJ), the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the Andean Tribunal of Justice (ATJ), and the Mercosur Permanent Review Court (PRC). While these courts were, on their terms, established to build common markets and to enforce trade liberalization, they have often developed bodies of jurisprudence in domains often not directly associated with regional economic integration. The CCJ has been most successful in the area of human and fundamental rights; the CACJ has addressed issues related to the enforcement of the rule of law in national legal arenas and long-standing border disputes between the countries of the region; the ATJ is an island of effective adjudication on intellectual property issues; and the PRC has significantly struggled to receive a significant number of cases to rule upon all together. The particular trajectories of the four Latin American and Caribbean Regional Economic Courts (RECs) suggest that there is no universal formula for success for these institutions and that their operational path is not necessarily a function of their formally delegated competences and/or of the will of the Member States, as it is often argued in mainstream legal and political science literature. Rather, local socio-political contextual factors—such as the historical legacies of a region, the interests and dynamics of socialization of legally and politically situated actors, the nature of national and regional politics, and legal culture—often play a far more decisive role in influencing the direction of RECs during and after their establishment.

The book proposes a profound rethink of the complex relationship between Europe—defined here as the European Union and its members—and the states of the Mediterranean Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Europe’s ‘southern neighbours’. These relations are examined through a borderlands prism that conceives of this interaction as one between an empire of sorts that seeks to export its order beyond the border, and the empire’s southern borderlands. Focusing on trade relations on the one hand, and the cooperation on migration, borders, and security on the other, the book revisits the historical origins and modalities of Europe’s selective rule transfer to MENA states, the interests underwriting these policies, and the complex dynamics marking the interaction between the two sides over a twenty-year period (1995–2015). It shows that within a system of structurally asymmetric economic relations from which Europe and MENA elites benefit the most, single MENA governments have been co-opted into the management of border and migration control where they act as Europe’s gatekeepers. Combined with specific policy choices of MENA governments, Europe’s selective expansion of its rules, practices, and disaggregated borders have contributed to rising socio-economic inequalities and the strengthening of authoritarian rule in the ‘southern neighbourhood’, with Europe tacitly tolerating serious violations of the rights of refugees and migrants at its fringes. Challenging the self-proclaimed benevolent nature of European policies and the notion of ‘Fortress Europe’ alike, the findings of this study contribute to broader debates on power, dependence, and interdependence in the discipline of international relations.

Economy and mankind are inextricably interlinked. Just as the economy or the production of material wealth is unimaginable without a man, so human existence and development are impossible without the wealth created in the economy. Shortly, both the goal and the means of achieving and realization of the economy are still the human resources. People have long ago noticed that it was the economy that created livelihoods, and the delays in their production led to the catastrophic events such as hunger, poverty, civil wars, social upheavals, revolutions, moral degeneration, and more. Therefore, the special interest of people in understanding the regulatory framework of the functioning of the economy has existed and exists in all historical epochs [A. Sisvadze. Economic theory. Part One. 2006y. p. 22]. The system of economic disciplines studies economy or economic activities of a society. All of them are based on science, which is currently called economic theory in the post-socialist space (the science of economics, the principles of economics or modern economics), and in most countries of the world - predominantly in the Greek-Latin manner - economics. The title of the present book is also Modern Economics. Economics (economic theory) is the science that studies the efficient use of limited resources to produce and distribute goods and services in order to satisfy as much as possible the unlimited needs and demands of the society. More simply, economics is the science of choice and how society manages its limited resources. Moreover, it should be emphasized that economics (economic theory) studies only the distribution, exchange and consumption of the economic wealth (food, beverages, clothing, housing, machine tools, computers, services, etc.), the production of which is possible and limited. And the wealth that exists indefinitely: no economic relations are formed in the production and distribution of solar energy, air, and the like. This current book is the second complete updated edition of the challenges of the modern global economy in the context of the coronary crisis, taking into account some of the priority directions of the country's development. Its purpose is to help students and interested readers gain a thorough knowledge of economics and show them how this knowledge can be applied pragmatically (professionally) in professional activities or in everyday life. To achieve this goal, this textbook, which consists of two parts and tests, discusses in simple and clear language issues such as: the essence of economics as a science, reasons for origin, purpose, tasks, usefulness and functions; Basic principles, problems and peculiarities of economics in different economic systems; Needs and demand, the essence of economic resources, types and limitations; Interaction, mobility, interchangeability and efficient use of economic resources. The essence and types of wealth; The essence, types and models of the economic system; The interaction of households and firms in the market of resources and products; Market mechanism and its elements - demand, supply and price; Demand and supply elasticity; Production costs and the ways to reduce them; Forms of the market - perfect and incomplete competition markets and their peculiarities; Markets for Production Factors and factor incomes; The essence of macroeconomics, causes and importance of origin; The essence and calculation of key macroeconomic indicators (gross national product, gross domestic product, net national product, national income, etc.); Macroeconomic stability and instability, unemployment, inflation and anti-inflationary policies; State regulation of the economy and economic policy; Monetary and fiscal policy; Income and standard of living; Economic Growth; The Corona Pandemic as a Defect and Effect of Globalization; National Economic Problems and New Opportunities for Development in the conditions of the Coronary Crisis; The Socio-economic problems of moral obsolescence in digital technologies; Education and creativity are the main solution way to overcome the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus; Positive and negative effects of tourism in Georgia; Formation of the middle class as a contributing factor to the development of tourism in Georgia; Corporate culture in Georgian travel companies, etc. The axiomatic truth is that economics is the union of people in constant interaction. Given that the behavior of the economy reflects the behavior of the people who make up the economy, after clarifying the essence of the economy, we move on to the analysis of the four principles of individual decision-making. Furtermore, the book describes how people make independent decisions. The key to making an individual decision is that people have to choose from alternative options, that the value of any action is measured by the value of what must be given or what must be given up to get something, that the rational, smart people make decisions based on the comparison of the marginal costs and marginal returns (benefits), and that people behave accordingly to stimuli. Afterwards, the need for human interaction is then analyzed and substantiated. If a person is isolated, he will have to take care of his own food, clothes, shoes, his own house and so on. In the case of such a closed economy and universalization of labor, firstly, its productivity will be low and, secondly, it will be able to consume only what it produces. It is clear that human productivity will be higher and more profitable as a result of labor specialization and the opportunity to trade with others. Indeed, trade allows each person to specialize, to engage in the activities that are most successful, be it agriculture, sewing or construction, and to buy more diverse goods and services from others at a relatively lower price. The key to such human interactions is that trade is mutually beneficial; That markets are usually the good means of coordination between people and that the government can improve the results of market functioning if the market reveals weakness or the results of market functioning are not fair. Moroever, it also shows how the economy works as a whole. In particular, it is argued that productivity is a key determinant of living standards, that an increase in the money supply is a major source of inflation, and that one of the main impediments to avoiding inflation is the existence of an alternative between inflation and unemployment in the short term, that the inflation decrease causes the temporary decline in unemployement and vice versa. The Understanding creatively of all above mentioned issues, we think, will help the reader to develop market economy-appropriate thinking and rational economic-commercial-financial behaviors, to be more competitive in the domestic and international labor markets, and thus to ensure both their own prosperity and the functioning of the country's economy. How he/she copes with the tasks, it is up to the individual reader to decide. At the same time, we will receive all the smart useful advices with a sense of gratitude and will take it into account in the further work. We also would like to thank the editor and reviewers of the books. Finally, there are many things changing, so it is very important to realize that the XXI century has come: 1. The century of the new economy; 2. Age of Knowledge; 3. Age of Information and economic activities are changing in term of innovations. 1. Why is the 21st century the century of the new economy? Because for this period the economic resources, especially non-productive, non-recoverable ones (oil, natural gas, coal, etc.) are becoming increasingly limited. According to the World Energy Council, there are currently 43 years of gas and oil reserves left in the world (see “New Commersant 2007 # 2, p. 16). Under such conditions, sustainable growth of real gross domestic product (GDP) and maximum satisfaction of uncertain needs should be achieved not through the use of more land, labor and capital (extensification), but through more efficient use of available resources (intensification) or innovative economy. And economics, as it was said, is the science of finding the ways about the more effective usage of the limited resources. At the same time, with the sustainable growth and development of the economy, the present needs must be met in a way that does not deprive future generations of the opportunity to meet their needs; 2. Why is the 21st century the age of knowledge? Because in a modern economy, it is not land (natural resources), labor and capital that is crucial, but knowledge. Modern production, its factors and products are not time-consuming and capital-intensive, but science-intensive, knowledge-intensive. The good example of this is a Japanese enterprise (firm) where the production process is going on but people are almost invisible, also, the result of such production (Japanese product) is a miniature or a sample of how to get the maximum result at the lowest cost; 3. Why is the 21st century the age of information? Because the efficient functioning of the modern economy, the effective organization of the material and personal factors of production largely depend on the right governance decision. The right governance decision requires prompt and accurate information. Gone are the days when the main means of transport was a sailing ship, the main form of data processing was pencil and paper, and the main means of transmitting information was sending letters through a postman on horseback. By the modern transport infrastructure (highways, railways, ships, regular domestic and international flights, oil and gas pipelines, etc.), the movement of goods, services and labor resoucres has been significantly accelerated, while through the modern means of communication (mobile phone, internet, other) the information is spreading rapidly globally, which seems to have "shrunk" the world and made it a single large country. The Authors of the book: Ushangi Samadashvili, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University - Introduction, Chapters - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11,12, 15,16, 17.1,18 , Tests, Revaz Shengelia, Doctor of Economics, Professor of Georgian Technical University, Chapters_7, 8, 13. 14, 17.2, 17.4; Zhuzhuna Tsiklauri - Doctor of Economics, Professor of Georgian Technical University - Chapters 13.6, 13.7,17.2, 17.3, 18. We also thank the editor and reviewers of the book.

Few aspects of daily existence are untouched by technology. The learning and teaching of music is no exception, and arguably has been impacted as much or more than other areas of life. Digital technologies have come to affect music learning and teaching in profound ways, influencing everything from how we create, listen, share, consume, interact, and conceptualize musical practices and the musical experience. For a discipline as entrenched in tradition as music education, this has brought forth myriad views on what does and should constitute music learning and teaching. In order to tease out and elucidate some of the salient problems, interests, and issues, this volume sought to critically situate technology in relation to music education from a variety of perspectives: historical, philosophical, socio-cultural, pedagogical, musical, economic, policy, and so on, organized around four broad themes: (1) Emergence and Evolution, (2) Locations and Contexts: Social and Cultural Issues, (3) Experiencing, Expressing, Learning and Teaching, and (4) Competence, Credentialing, and Professional Development. The editors solicited essays from 22 “Core Perspective” and 19 “Further Perspective” authors based on their potential to contribute a diversity of perspectives on technology and music education in terms of gender, theoretical perspective, geographical distribution, and relationship to the field. The overall thrust was to provide contrasting perspectives and conversational voices rather than reinforce traditional narratives and prevailing discourses. The website http://ohotame.musedlab.org/ provides opportunities to participate and sustain the dialogue relating to technology and music education.

The monograph presents the results of international research activities on the pedagogical education and professional training development in the modern socio-cultural environment. Theoretical and methodological principles of the professional training for future specialists in the field of pedagogy and educational policy strategy during socio-economic changes in Ukraine and EU countries are studied, common conceptual trajectories of the preschool education modernization are offered. Psychological, pedagogical and social aspects of education for children of different age categories and children with special educational needs are substantiated. Particular attention is paid to the use of innovative technologies in the educational process. The progressive ideas of Vasyl Sukhomlynsky’s pedagogical heritage in the practice of a modern educational institution are highlighted. The work is intended for research and scientific-pedagogical workers in the field of education, graduate students, students, as well as professionals who are interested in modern approaches to pedagogical education and professional training.

Starting from the 1970s, some co-operatives distinguished themselves for their interest in producing social services and for their social aims. They emerged in order to answer new needs arising in society, and specifically the difficulties faced by welfare systems. Co-operatives started to assume a new role as welfare providers and suppliers of general-interest services and work integration of disadvantaged people. This new co-operative form first emerged in Italy during the 1980s as a bottom-up phenomenon. The first regulation on social co-operatives was enacted in Italy by Law 381/1991. This chapter illustrates the emergence, the evolution, and the most recent trends of Italian social co-operation in order to define the main traits that helped social co-operatives become a successful organizational form in the provision of welfare services. This chapter also contributes to evaluating the added value of this co-operative form in the socio-economic context.

The publication, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of our state’s independence, summarizes the main research results and describes the achievements of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The main focus is on the developments of recent years. The outstanding contribution of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine as the main scientific institution of the state in the development of the economy and the development of the socio-humanitarian sphere is outlined. The book is intended for a wide range of scientists, educators and cultural workers, all who are interested in the development of science in Ukraine.

This book is a sequel to Contemporary grandparenting, published in 2012 (Arber and Timonen, 2012). Both macro and micro level issues are covered, with a particular focus on gender, welfare states, economic development, and grandparental agency; this ensures that the book covers many topic areas of greatest relevance and interest. It emphasises that grandparenting takes many diverse forms and cannot be reduced to a small number of ‘types’. Grandparenting has evolved considerably, and continues to evolve, as a result of both socio-demographic and economic influences, and grandparents’ own agency. The book contains analyses of topics that have so far received relatively little attention, such as transnational grandparenting and gender differences in grandparenting practices. It is the only collection that brings together theory-driven research on grandparenting from a wide variety of cultural and welfare state contexts - including chapters on Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australia - drawing broad lines of debate as well as outlining country-level analyses. The book therefore combines up-to-date empirical findings with new theorising that will be relevant to academics, researchers, students, and experts working in the realms of family and old-age policy and practice.

This book to interested in gaining an insight into the issues pertaining to the prospect for employment generation in Jammu and Kashmir in present times. The book is original in content. We get here a fresh perspective that boldly shifts the focus from the past demographic and developmental dimensions to the present dynamics of the state, or, rather, the Union Territories. In spelling this out the author, Dr. Bilal Khan, explains in great detail the varied and diversified geographic, agro-climatic and topographic features of the region that pose peculiar and unique problems of development. The author dwells on how the state has been subverted from time to time. The work draws attention to the trends and issues concerning the work force. The policy implications of this work are immense. The book is focused on finding innovative methods to enable the young youth to exercise as well as realize their full potential. The author shows with corroborating evidence that the Central Government not only deployed security forces in large numbers but also spent huge sums of money on building infrastructure and providing economic assistance to Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of addressing the problems of the peasantry and the common people and expanding the employment of the restive youth, this led to the creation of neo-rich strata within the state. Dr. Bilal presents the much neglected dimensions of the economy of Kashmir by showing how the widening gulf over decades has generated mass discontent against the Indian government and created the social basis of separatism and militancy in the 1990s. He points out with much evidence that a radical shift in its policies, especially in the education sector, is an absolute prerequisite for the birth of a capable workforce. The remedy lies in revamping the education sector by crafting appropriate policies for suitable skills in line with the socio-economic requirements of the society. Underdevelopment and unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is the manifestation of a mismatch between physical and human resources, technically known as structural unemployment. This exists when a large segment of the working age population does not possess the appropriate skills and knowledge to be gainfully employed. Kashmir faced a serious unemployment problem, made me realize that there was an immediate need of a book on Jammu & Kashmir: Levels, Issues, & Prospects of Employment Generation which could educate the young youth about the various aspects and challenges in a simple and lucid manner. The book presents a comprehensive treatment of unemployment and economic problems. It takes care of recent data of workforce wherever it is required. Kashmir being a conflict ridden zone has far less opportunities for employment than rest of the other states. With an underdeveloped industrial sector and the inability of government to create enough jobs, there seems to be no immediate solution. Lack of avenues to engage youth in meaningful ways drives youth towards the miscreants in this society. Young populations across the world are generally seen as drivers of socio-economic growth, but in Kashmir, the youth bulge is a problem. Unemployed youths are betrayed by the anti-social elements and for destabilizing economy by using them as tools for creating mayhem. Underdevelopment and unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is the manifestation of a mismatch between physical and human resources. This exists when a large segment of the working age population does not possess the appropriate skills and knowledge to be gainfully employed. In addition, lackadascial and imprudent policies pursued by subsequent governments are the major challenge. The book is with much evidence that a radical shift in its policies, especially in the education sector, is an absolute prerequisite for the birth of a capable workforce. The remedy lies in revamping the education sector by crafting appropriate policies for suitable skills in line with the socio-economic requirements of the society. The government adroitly must think about a long-term plan for unemployed youth and devise a policy to channelize youth bulge constructively.

Representations of southern poor whites have long shifted between romanticization and demonization. At worst, poor southern whites are aligned with racism, bigotry, and right-wing extremism, and at best, regarded as the passive victims of wider, socio-economic policies. Poverty Politics: Poor Whites in Contemporary Southern Writing pushes beyond these stereotypes and explores the impact of neoliberalism and welfare reform on depictions of poverty. The book examines representations of southern poor whites across various types of literature, including travel-writing, photo-narratives, life-writing, and eco-literature, and reveals a common interest in communitarianism that crosses the boundaries of the US South and regionalism, moving past ideas about the culture of poverty to examine the economics of poverty. Included are critical examinations of the writings of southern writers such as Dorothy Allison, Rick Bragg, Barbara Kingsolver, Tim McLaurin, Toni Morrison, and Ann Pancake. Poverty Politics: Poor Whites in Contemporary Southern Writing includes critical engagement with identity politics as well as reflecting on issues including Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 financial crisis, and mountaintop removal. It interrogates the presumed opposition between the Global North and the Global South and engages with micro-regions through case studies on Appalachian photo-narratives and eco-literature. Importantly, it focuses not merely on representations of southern poor whites, but also on writing that calls for alternative ways of re-conceptualizing not just the poor, but societal measures of time, value, and worth.

Abstract This book focuses on the context, nature and role of tourism in Greenland, and is set within an overlapping geopolitical frame of: (a)the heightening climate crisis; (b)Greenland's trajectory towards political independence from Denmark; (c)its concept of economic 'self-sustainability' in supporting this trajectory; and (d)growing international interest in, and competition for, Greenland's natural resources and infrastructure projects. The last in its turn partly reflects improving land and sea accessibility afforded by climate change, which paradoxically both challenges and encourages Greenland's concepts of sustainable development, within which tourism plays an ambivalent role: while elements of global and local tourism have been seeking to create a more responsible sector, within Greenland's development trajectory tourism appears to be supporting a sustainability ideology that ignores, or at best camouflages, the climate crisis. The central themes of this book therefore employ the role of tourism and travel as a lens through which to examine climatic, societal, economic and geopolitical change in the Arctic as specifically articulated in the experience of Greenland. The 'critical' situations in which Greenland finds itself reflect external perceptions of the global climate crisis and geostrategic maneuvering over Arctic resources, and domestic considerations of socio-economic development and increased sovereignty. The volume thereby highlights the close and often critical interrelationships between the local, regional and global. A recurring observation is the paradox, one of several of a region hitherto regarded as peripheral but which is becoming increasingly central to global concerns, with tourism-related dynamics reflecting such centrality. In this way, this book aims to: (1) emphasise the critical role of change in the Arctic in general and in Greenland in particular; (2) highlight critical interrelationships between tourism, climate change and the geopolitics of Arctic development, where 'geopolitics' is interpreted as applying at a number of scales from the interpersonal and quotidian to the global geostrategic; and (3) provide a critical examination of Greenland's post-colonial tourism development path, as the territory becomes the focus of increasing global interest. This book is organised into three parts with a total of 13 chapters.

Development cannot be separated from global political economy, but it is an inherent component of the latter. The concept of development was popularized through expansion of colonization, and underwent various transformations as the socio-political structure of the world changed over time. Thus, the central task of development theory is to determine and explain why some countries are underdeveloped and how these countries can develop. Such theories draw on a variety of social science disciplines and approaches. Accordingly, different development paradigms have emerged upon which different scholars have shown profound interests and to which they gave extensive criticisms—modernization, dependency, Marxism, postcolonialism, and globalization. With the recent emergence of the post-modern critique of development, power has become an important subject in the discourse of development. Nevertheless, a full theoretical understanding of the relations between power and development is still in its fledgling stage. Though highly apparent in human societies, social power per se is a polylithic discourse with no unified definition and implication, which has led different proponents of development paradigms to understand power differently. Although there is a dialectic contradiction between the different dialogic paradigms, the reality of development theory is that there is a large choice of theories and models from which field practicioners will draw pragmatically the most appropriate elements, or they will create their own model adapted to the situation.

The Weimar Constitution marked Germany’s first sortie into democracy, with the Republic intended to be democratic, humane and constitutional and based on the principle of popular sovereignty. However, its election system of proportional representation favoured small parties and impeded the formation of a government, with its final governments being presidential cabinets. Constitutions are often analysed by various academic fields. While philosophy and historiography set the framework for this analysis, constitutional law may be regarded as the principal discipline in this regard. The social sciences are first and foremost concerned with constitutional reality, and there is indeed strong evidence that it was the Weimar Republic’s lack of socio-economic foundations that ultimately caused its demise. This volume is divided into twelve parts (perspectives) and will appeal to readers interested in politics, law, (contemporary) history, sociology and philosophy. With contributions by Stefan Bajohr, Wolfgang Bergem, Sabine Berghahn, Ursula Büttner, Norbert Campagna, Wolfgang Elz, Heiner Fechner, Helmut Gebhardt, Michael Geistlinger, Christoph Gusy, Volker Haug, Franz Hederer, Tobias Herbst, Peter Hilpold, Marcus Höreth, Ernst-Ulrich Huster, Eckhard Jesse, Herbert Kalb, Daniel-Erasmus Khan, Franz Kohout, Skadi Siiri Krause, Volker Kruse, Stefan Kutzner, Hans-Joachim Lauth, Oliver Lembcke, Matthias Lemke, Thomas Leuerer, Josef Marko, Reinhard Mehring, Martin H.W. Möllers, Martin Morlok, Robert Chr. van Ooyen, Martin Otto, Jürgen Pirker, Monika Polzin, Emanuel Richter, Claus von Rosen, Frank Schale, Stephanie Schiedermair, Theo Schiller, Kamila Staudigl-Ciechowicz, Stefan Storr, Heinz-Elmar Tenorth, Lars Viellechner, Rüdiger Voigt, Christian Waldhoff, Heinrich de Wall und Anita Ziegerhofer.

Open data and its effects on society are always woven into infrastructural legacies, social relations, and the political economy. This raises questions about how our understanding and engagement with open data shifts when we focus on its situated use. To shed a light on these questions, Situating Open Data provides several empirical accounts of open data practices, the local implementation of global initiatives, and the development of new open data ecosystems. Drawing on case studies in different countries and contexts, the chapters demonstrate the practices and actors involved in open government data initiatives unfolding within different socio-political settings. The book proposes three recommendations for researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. First, beyond upskilling through data literacy programmes, open data initiatives should be specified through the kinds of data practices and effects they generate. Second, global visions of open data implementation require more studies of the resonances and tensions created in localised initiatives. And third, research into open data ecosystems requires more attention to the histories and legacies of information infrastructures and how these shape who benefits from open data flows. As such, this volume departs from the framing of data as a resource to be deployed. Instead, it proposes a prism of different data practices in different contexts through which to study the social relations, capacities, infrastructural histories and power structures affecting open data initiatives. It is hoped that the contributions collected in Situating Open Data will spark critical reflection about the way open data is locally practiced and implemented. The contributions should be of interest to open data researchers, advocates, and those in or advising government administrations designing and rolling out effective open data initiatives.