bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges and Prescriptions to Corporate Governance Issues Facing State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): A Zimbabwean Perspective
Authors: Mthombeni Admire , Obert Sifile , Juet Nyamudzodza , Bronson Mutanda , Sydney Mishi
Published: October 2023

The main objective of the study was to determine the corporate governance challenges facing State-Owned Enterprises in Zimbabwe. In so doing the study sought to proffer solutions and prescriptions to the challenges. In this view, the study adopted a quantitative research approach in which the positivist philosophy was applied. A cross-sectional survey design was used in which data was gathered using a structured questionnaire. The target population consisted of top and middle management, board members, board chairpersons, and CEOs of SOEs found in  Zimbabwe. Using the sampling procedure developed by Krejcie and Morgan (1970), a sample size of 351 individuals was determined. The research employed stratified random sampling for sampling respondents.  SPSS version  23 was used to analyze quantitative data. The research established that Corporate governance challenges faced by SOEs in Zimbabwe include the bureaucratic nature of SOEs which causes inflexibility, political history of SOEs, poorly composed boards, inefficient and lack of transparency in the appointment of boards, limited board independence, and unstable economic conditions. The research recommends that authorities in the Office of the President and Cabinet from the Corporate Governance Unit or  State Enterprises Restructuring Agency should organize more corporate governance training for Boards and other custodians of corporate governance in State Owned Enterprises.
A Systematic Review of the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Managing Innovation in E-Government Organizations Worldwide
Authors: Alshaer Mayid
Published: October 2023

Purpose: This paper delivers a methodical literature review that focuses on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to handle innovation within e-government organizations globally.

Methodology: Showcasing meticulousness, the review utilized a structured method to scrutinize 11 academic studies obtained from established, globally renowned databases, such as Scopus and Web of Science.

Findings: The findings underscore an expansive array of AI applications within e-government's innovation management, incorporating data-led decision processes, chatbots for effective consumer service, sentiment inspection for useful citizen critique, and predictive analysis for service refinement. Conversely, incorporating AI within e-government establishments encounters considerable hurdles regarding data presence and integrity, transparency and interoperability concerns, ethical considerations, as well as sustainability and expansion challenges. The review strongly underlines the necessity for calculated investments towards resource augmentation and technological infrastructure.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into e-government innovation may shape the direction of ensuing research in digital governance and public administration. Beneficiaries of the comprehensive insights this scholarly study offers include e-government experts, scholars, and tech innovators hailing from manifold geographical spaces. The findings of this study could be resourceful for top-tier decision-makers in national and local e-government organizations, allowing them to refine their strategies for AI amalgamation and enhance service provision.
A Comparative Study to Assess Hamstring Tightness in Individuals with and without Plantar fasciitis
Authors: Sarfraz Zainab , Enderyas Dr. Gulraiz , Islam Dr. Farooq , Thakur Prof Asim Raza
Published: October 2023

Purpose: To compare hamstring tightness in individuals with and without plantar fasciitis

Methodology: 369 individuals (male and female) was evaluated This, cross-sectional study included individuals with, and without plantar fasciitis. Data will be collected from hospitals in DHQ Wazirabad, THQ Gujranwala, Aziz Bhatti Gujrat. Non probability convenient sampling technique was used. Goniometer was used for measuring range of motion for active knee extension. The data was collected under the rules and regulations of ethical committee of University of Lahore.

Findings: This study's findings show that 50.27 percent of subjects had plantar fasciitis whereas 49.73 percent did not. Active knee extension test was used to determine whether participants had tight hamstrings. The results show that among the 49.73% of participants who did not have plantar fasciitis, 37.23% had negative results, while 12.50% had positive results. In contrast, among the 50.27% of participants who did have plantar fasciitis, 11.14% had negative results, while 39.13% had positive results.

Conclusion: The study's goal was to determine if hamstring tension contributes to the development of plantar fasciitis. According to the current study, individuals with and without PF had their hamstring tightness evaluated. An active knee extension test was used to measure the tightness of the hamstrings. Following the completion of the current study, it was shown that patients with plantar fasciitis show higher hamstring tightness than individuals without plantar fasciitis.

Recommendations: For study, it is recommended to gather data from several cities so that the conclusions may be generalized. Future research should examine additional risk factors for plantar fasciitis. The reasons of hamstring tightness should be addressed to reduce the chance of developing plantar fasciitis.
Prevalence and Functional Limitations Associated with Anterior Knee Pain among Females
Authors: Abbas Maham , Asghar Faiza , Islam Farooq , Raza Asim
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Anterior knee pain begins when the kneecap does not move freely and bumps into the bottom portion of the thigh bone. This can be the result of the patellofemoral joint being out of alignment or the kneecap being in an abnormal position. The muscles on the front and back of your thigh are tight or weak. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is the term used to describe a common knee condition that causes pain in the front of the knee, near the patellofemoral joint. To determine the prevalence and functional limitations associated with anterior knee pain among female.

Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the district Gujranwala. The sample size was 237. General female population of age 20 to 40 was included in this study. Convenient sampling technique was used. A Kujala scores (anterior knee pain scale) was used for data collection. The total scores of the questionnaire were 100. Participants with score less than 84 were positive anterior knee pain and those who had score more than 84 were negative anterior knee pain results.

Findings: Results shows that out of 237 participants 42 female with percentage 17.7% having positive results of ANP (anterior knee pain) and 195 females with percentage 82.3% have negative results of ANP.

Conclusion: This survey concluded that the 17.7% of the subjects were positive for ANP according to ANPQ. It was more common in young females. The daily physical activities are impacted by ANP. The majority of respondents who received positive scores struggled with knee flexion and experienced pain that affected their overall performance.
Nigeria as the Poverty Headquarters of the World: Implications for Her National Development and Relationship with External World
Authors: Agidi Dr Pally Ejime
Published: October 2023

Nigeria is an African country located on the Gulf of Guinea with many landmarks and wildlife reserves. She is blessed with arable land, natural resources and human capital. Before independence in 1960, Nigeria depended on Agriculture as her mainstay. She was exporting agricultural products and feeding her citizens from agriculture which also provided employment for a large number of her populations. However, when crude oil was discovered in Nigeria in the late 1950s, Nigeria began to earn high revenue from crude oil which became her major source of earning foreign exchange. Nigeria began to neglect agriculture and its products as areas of revenue earning, making her mono-economy in nature. The citizens became uninterested in engaging in agriculture for employment. Steady increase in the populations especially in the urban areas outrageously led to continuous rise in poverty of the citizens in Nigeria. This situation continues to slow down her developmental efforts and also affects her relationship with the external world. This occasioned the reasons why Nigeria is being described as the poverty headquarters of the world. This has provoked several questions on how Nigeria that is supposed to be the giant of Africa, found herself in the present situation of being the poverty headquarters of the World. This study therefore investigated Nigeria as the poverty headquarters of the world and its implications for her national development and relationship with external World, focusing on the concept of poverty, National development, the indices of a poor nation and the characteristics of Nigeria economy. The study is a qualitative research that relied on secondary source of data and anchored on dependency theory as its theoretical framework of analysis. The study revealed that the poverty nature of Nigeria as a nation has overbearing implications for her national development and her relationship with the external world. The paper therefore recommended that Nigeria should strategically reduce corruption to the barest minimum and initiate good policies that can reduce poverty in the long- run. There is need for effective monitoring of public finances and diversification of economic activities from mono-resource economy so as to create opportunities of empowerment for Nigerians.
INFLUÊNCIA DA PRÁTICA DA ATIVIDADE FÍSICA NOS SINTOMAS DE DEPRESSÃO EM UNIVERSITÁRIOS
Authors: Cesar Ladeira Paulo , Aparecida de Lima Keila
Published: October 2023

A prevalência de sintomas de depressão entre universitários tem sido uma preocupação crescente na saúde mental, destacando a necessidade de estratégias eficazes de prevenção e tratamento. Este artigo de revisão de literatura analisa a influência da prática da atividade física na redução dos sintomas de depressão em estudantes universitários. Universitários frequentemente enfrentam altos níveis de estresse acadêmico e pressão social, tornando-os particularmente suscetíveis a problemas de saúde mental, incluindo a depressão. Portanto, promover a atividade física como parte integrante da vida dos universitários pode ser uma estratégia eficaz para prevenir e aliviar os sintomas de depressão. No entanto, é importante considerar que a adesão à atividade física pode ser desafiadora para alguns estudantes, devido a barreiras como falta de tempo, motivação e acesso a instalações esportivas. Portanto, estratégias de intervenção devem ser adaptadas às necessidades individuais e contextuais. Assim, a prática da atividade física mostra-se promissora na redução dos sintomas de depressão em universitários, oferecendo benefícios físicos e psicológicos significativos. A promoção de estilos de vida ativos dentro das universidades e a criação de ambientes favoráveis à prática de exercícios podem contribuir para melhorar a saúde mental dos estudantes.
A Literature Survey on Carpooling
Authors: Krushna Jaybhaye  , Aniket Chavan  , Aneesh Wath  , Omkar Sherkar  , Sheetal Kapse
Published: October 2023

This paper embarks on an exploratory journey through a collection of diverse studies, shedding light on the multifaceted world of carpooling. These papers collectively underscore the compelling advantages of carpooling, from economic benefits to addressing traffic congestion and pollution, highlighting its potential to reshape urban commuting and contribute to sustainability. Simultaneously, these studies address inherent carpooling challenges, proposing solutions that encompass logistical considerations and social barriers. We also witness the evolution of carpooling design and technology, from dedicated lanes to advanced matching algorithms, emphasizing innovation at its core. These papers collectively provide valuable insights into carpooling's multifaceted world, illuminating its transformative potential and resilience in the face of urban challenges. This paper provides an overview of the existing research related to the carpooling concept.
Hysterosalpingographic Findings Among Ghanaian Women with Infertility: A Five-year Trend Analysis
Authors: Edzie Emmanuel Kobina Mesi , Dzefi-Tettey Klenam , Gorleku Philip Narteh , Brakohiapa Edmund Kwadwo Kwakye , Amedi Michael Kofi , Quarshie Frank , Asemah Abdul Raman , Nimo Obed , Abdulai Abubakari Bawah , Akorli Emmanuel , Edzie Richard Ato , Anthony Richard , Boadi Evans , Kpobi Joshua Mensah , Amankwa Nana Ama , Amartey Aaron , Turkson Veronica , Mensah Stella , Dziwornu Prosper , Edzie Alfred , Afful Roger , Coffie Bright Appiah , Kusodzi Henry
Published: October 2023

Objectives: To understand the pattern of hysterosalpingographic (HSG) findings and annual trends among Ghanaian women with infertility over a five-year period. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the hospital medical records of women with infertility who underwent HSG at a major tertiary center in Ghana between January 2018 and December 2022. The data was statistically analyzed. Results: The subjects comprised of 2324 Ghanaian women diagnosed with clinical infertility. HSG identified 1685 (72.5%) with primary infertility and they were also younger women with a mean age of 32.2±4.5 years. The remaining 639 (27.5%) women had secondary infertility and were older (34.2±5.3 years; p < 0.001). Primary infertility rate decreased with increasing age (p < 0.001). Bilateral tubal blockage was seen in 701 (41.6%) women with primary infertility and 365 (57.1%) women with secondary infertility. Hydrosalpinx was present in 236 (10.2%) women, fimbrial adhesions in 444 (19.1%), Asherman’s syndrome in four (0.2%), and bilateral beaded tubes/tubercular salpingitis in five (0.2%). HSG was unable to detect infertility-related abnormalities in 513 (22.1%) women despite their clinical infertility. The majority of patients (1502; 64.6%) had tubal blockage: bilateral in 1066 (45.9%) and unilateral in 436 (18.8%). Conclusions: Infertility rates among Ghanaian women increased at an accelerating rate over the years. Primary infertility was significantly more prevalent among younger women. Tubal and cervical abnormalities were the most prevalent HSG findings.
New Insights into Internal Oxidation of Alloy 690 and Model Alloys in Hydrogenated Steam
Authors: Riahi Ali , Zhu Hao , Eskandari Ali , Persaud Suraj Y. , Newman Roger C.
Published: October 2023

The oxidation behavior of Alloy 690 and Ni-xCr-10Fe model alloys exposed to 480°C hydrogenated steam, in the nickel metal stability region, was studied using a variety of techniques, including time-resolved scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. The alloy underwent internal oxidation intragranularly, resulting in the expulsion of metallic Ni nodules to the surface. A compact Cr-rich “healing” layer developed over time at the intragranular internal oxidation front near grain boundaries and significantly retards further internal oxidation. Protective external Cr-rich oxide formed at and very near the grain boundaries, hindering intergranular oxidation. In view of the fact that the protective oxide forms micrometers away from the grain boundaries, one cannot simply say that Cr diffuses up the boundary and forms an oxide that spreads laterally—internal stress relief must play a role, just as it does within the grains, only with different mechanisms at play.
Saberes, experiencias y prácticas corporales culturales: Educación Física y Enseñanza
Authors: Piani Mailhos Miriam , Peralta Cinthia
Published: October 2023

En el presente artículo se plantean algunos de los avances parciales del proyecto: “Las prácticas corporales culturales (PCC) desde una multiperspectiva: Educación Física y Enseñanza”. Objetivo: El objetivo de la investigación es construir principios para la enseñanza de esas PCC en las clases de Educación Física escolares, sin colonizar sus epistemologías. Método: Se investigó a partir de un diseño cualitativo de muestreo teórico, y a través de observaciones etnográficas, observaciones participantes y entrevistas en profundidad. La información fue analizada usando análisis de contenido. Resultados: los principios construidos no son generales, sino que cada práctica investigada tiene sus particularidades, y, por lo tanto, no admite la generalización de enseñanza. En cada una de estas, se tejen proyecciones sociopolíticas como formas de ser, estar y hacer en el mundo, con sentidos y significados singulares, que se encarnan a través de diferentes composiciones motrices y discursivas. Conclusiones: Los saberes y experiencias de las PCC, como espacios pedagógicos, y en clave performativa, constituyen nichos de subjetivación, según se hipotetiza desde la perspectiva Bourdiana, donde los y las practicantes experimentan saberes corporales y estéticos desde un lugar prelingüístico, con implicancias epistemológicas y ontológicas, aportando, además, habilidades físico-motrices, a la Educación Física, como saberes disciplinares específicos.
Spirit and Method
Authors: Rodríguez-Gungor Edwin
Published: October 2023

Offers a generative and hospitable theological methodology rooted in the distinctives of pentecostal spirituality, enlivened by a Spirited imagination and opened toward critical, constructive, and conciliatory dialogue with the wider Christian tradition. This inter- and cross-disciplinary work is careful yet generous, drawing together of knowledge and wisdom from different domains—historical, philosophical, and theological—in ways recognizably pentecostal and effectively missional.

The book begins with a description of the essence of pentecostal spirituality that holds true across the various pentecostalisms. Drawing largely on an innovative engagement with the insights of Rudolph Otto and an exploration of the dialectic between religious experience and theological development, this book contends for an identifiable but mysterious “something” that makes pentecostalism truly pentecostal—that is, something more than one might sum up in any set of peculiar practices, beliefs, or behaviors.

The book also provides an overview of the intellectual history of English-speaking pentecostalism, specifying and assessing the movement’s major philosophical underpinnings and socio-cultural motivations.  Finally, funded by an explicitly pentecostal metaphysics,  the book sets forth a significant and boldly original pneumatological theological methodology, shaped by discerning conversation with the works of Amos Yong, L. William Oliverio, Jr., Wolfgang Vondey, and Simo Frestadius, among others.
Attlee
Authors: Thomas-Symonds Nick
Published: October 2023

A biography of a key figure in British political life, now with a new foreword by Keir Starmer, providing a vivid portrait of the man and his politics.

Clement Attlee - the man who created the welfare state and decolonised vast swathes of the British Empire, including India - has been acclaimed by many as Britain's greatest twentieth-century Prime Minister. Yet somehow Attlee the man remains elusive. How did such a moderate, modest man bring about so many enduring changes? What are the secrets of his leadership style? And how do his personal attributes account for both his spectacular successes and his apparent failures?

When Attlee became Prime Minister in July 1945 he was the leader of a Labour party that had won a landslide victory. With almost 50 percent of the popular vote, Attlee seemed to have achieved the platform for Labour to dominate post-war British politics. Yet just 6 years and 3 months after the 1945 victory, and despite all Attlee's governments had appeared to achieve, Labour was out of office, condemned to opposition for a further 13 years. This presents one of the great paradoxes of twentieth-century British history: how Attlee's government achieved so much, but lost power so quickly. But perhaps the greatest paradox was Attlee himself. Attlee's obituary in "The Times" in 1967 stated that 'much of what he did was memorable; very little that he said'. This new biography, based on extensive research into Attlee's papers and first-hand interviews, examines the myths that have arisen around this key figure of British political life, providing a vivid portrait of this man and his politics.
Atatürk
Authors: Gawrych George W.
Published: October 2023

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was one of the greatest leaders of the twentieth century. But how did the man from humble origins in modern-day Greece rise to become the leader of the new Turkish Republic out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and go on to radically transform Turkish society?

In this book, George Gawrych studies Atatürk’s career in detail. He shows the remarkable character of the man: a war hero who considered himself ‘baba’ or father to his troops with a library of over 4000 books, Atatürk married the traits of the classic military man-of-action with those of the intellectual and theorist. Gawrych places Atatürk in the context of his times to reveal how with these unique character traits he harnessed wider forces of societal change and transformation to set Turkey on a path of secular nationalism, the legacy of which are explored in the text and can be seen everywhere in Turkey today, from the second names he imposed on citizens to the adoption of the Latin alphabet. Attentive, too, to the costs of Atatürk’s policies, including the suppression of the minorities of the former multi-ethnic, interfaith and polyglot Ottoman Empire in the name of ‘Turkification’, the book presents a nuanced analysis of a figure who through force of will and expert manipulation of the conditions within which he found himself, did much to define modern Turkey today.
Communities
Authors: Zeichner Kenneth M.
Published: October 2023

This volume examines the multiple meanings of the term community in relation to teacher education research from an international perspective and present examples of exemplary work that represent different strands of community-focused and community-based teacher education. As well as laying out and clarifying the landscape of existing work on including communities in teacher education, Ken Zeichner argues for a view of teacher education in which existing power hierarchies are disrupted and in which parents/carers, families and local communities play central roles in the preparation of teachers and teacher educators. He also argues for a vision of teaching that includes instruction, curriculum development, and community participation. He explores the links between equity and justice in education in schools in marginalized communities and shows how decolonial approaches to teacher education that access community expertise can help shift power relations resulting in culturally sustaining and revitalizing forms of education.
Never-Ending Watchmen
Authors: Brooker Will
Published: October 2023

What began with Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark graphic novel, Watchmen (1987) is no longer a single story, but rather a cross-platform, multi-media franchise, including a role-playing game and video game, a motion comic, a Zack Snyder movie, and a series of comic book prequels and sequels, as well as a prestige HBO TV series.

Will Brooker explores the way that Watchmen expanded over time from the mid-1980s to the present day, drawing on theories of adaptation, intertextuality and deconstruction to argue that each addition subtly changes our understanding of the original. Does it matter whether these adaptations are ‘faithful’? Can they ever be, as they cross over into another medium? How does each version enter into a dialogue with the others? And as Damon Lindelof’s series ran parallel to an entirely distinct comic book Watchmen sequel, Doomsday Clock, how do readers and viewers make sense of these conflicting narratives? Can we relate the unstable, shifting stories of Watchmen to our contemporary climate of post-truth, where we have to weigh up contradictory versions of the facts and decide which we believe?
From World War to Postwar
Authors: Buchanan Andrew N.
Published: October 2023

Offering a global account of the ‘long’ World War II, this book challenges conventional narratives that picture a clearly defined war period (1939-1945) followed by a distinct postwar era dominated by the encroaching cold war. Arguing instead that while some aspects of the war did end abruptly in 1945, in many corners of the world ‘war’ bled directly and raggedly into the ‘postwar’ such as Allied Occupation in Italy, the civil war in Greece, the rise of US hegemony and struggles for national liberation in India. From World War to Cold War shows how critical developments in the latter half of the 20th century were a direct result of the Second World War, and reconceptualizes the conflict as an intersecting series of regional wars as well as an overarching world war.

Offering new ways to think about how ‘the war’ shaped the second half of the 20th century, this book reaches into those regions often overlooked in the study of WWII. Showing how wartime relations between the US and Latin America played a crucial role in the worldwide development of US hegemony, how WWII accelerated the retreat from Empire in Sub-Saharan Africa and how it encouraged the growth of anti-colonialism in regions around the world, Buchanan offers a truly global account of the outcomes of the largest conflict in human history, and challenges the temporal boundaries in which we view it.
Collaboration
Authors: Amy Shuffelton
Published: October 2023

Collaboration is widely celebrated as an ability schools should teach children to practice. Yet collaboration has a darker side, as its use to refer to those complicit with Nazi occupiers and with colonial oppressors of many kinds suggests. In effect, “collaboration” is a contranym, a word that can mean something or its opposite. To collaborate can mean to work with one’s friends and colleagues for the common good. It can also mean to sell out one’s friends and colleagues for the sake of personal gain.  What can schools do to encourage the first and discourage the second? The loyalty and commitment to shared ends that collaboration implies may seem a positive good only insofar as those loyalties and ends are also good – but how to judge?

This book asks: to whom should one be loyal and what are the limits of loyalty? What responsibility do collaborators bear for the outcomes of their joint projects? Should I make those friends and those responsibilities my own? These are questions children learn to answer in schools, through the formal and informal education that happens there. Amy Shuffelton explores those questions in the context of children’s lives in schools, including examples from films, literature, and children’s own accounts of moral dilemmas they face around questions of friendship, authority, and their own developing agency. She argues that rather than collaboration being a simple, good practice, considerable care is needed to ensure it serves individuals and their communities well.
Red Orchestra
Authors: Nelson Anne
Published: October 2023

For years, the history of the anti-Nazi resistance in Germany was hidden and distorted by Cold War politics. Providing a much-needed corrective, Red Orchestra presents the dramatic story of a circle of German citizens who opposed Hitler from the start, choosing to stay in Germany to resist Nazism and help its victims. The book shines a light on this critical movement which was made up of academics, theatre people, and factory workers; Protestants, Catholics and Jews; around 150 Germans all told and from all walks of life.

Drawing on archives, memoirs, and interviews with survivors, award-winning scholar and journalist Anne Nelson presents a compelling portrait of the men and women involved, and the terrifying day-to-day decisions in their lives, from the Nazi takeover in 1933 to their Gestapo arrest in 1942. Nelson traces the story of the Red Orchestra (Rote Kapelle) resistance movement within the context of German history, showing the stages of the Nazi movement and regime from the 1920s to the end of the Second World War. She also constructs the narrative around the life of Greta Kuckhoff and other female figures whose role in the anti-Nazi resistance fight is too-often unrecognised or under appreciated.

This revised edition includes:

* A new introduction which explores elements of the Red Orchestra’s experience that resonate with our times, including: the impact of new media technologies; the dangers of political polarization; and the way the judiciary can be shaped to further the ends of autocracy. The introduction will also address the long-standing misconception that the German Resistance only took action when it was clear that Germany was losing the war.

* Historiographic updates throughout the book which take account of recent literature and additional archival sources
How We Became Post-Liberal
Authors: Blackford Russell
Published: October 2023

Liberalism is in trouble. As a set of ideas, it has lost much of its historical authority in guiding public policy and personal behaviour. In this post-liberal climate, Russell Blackford asks whether liberalism is truly over and, if not, if it's worth saving.

How We Became Post-Liberal examines how Western liberal democracies became nations where traditional liberal principles of toleration (religious and otherwise), individual liberty and freedom of speech are widely viewed as under attack, or twisted to support conservative policies. Blackford traces the lineage of liberalism from classical antiquity and the rise of Christianity, with comparison to problems of freedom and toleration that arose in non-Western civilizations. The political and philosophical story culminates in the recent development – over the past 30 to 50 years – of post-liberal ideologies in the West. At each stage, he raises arguments for and against liberal principles, identifying why no argument to date has been totally successful in convincing opponents.

From to the Charlie Hebdo tragedy to the murder of Samuel Pety, this is an indispensable guide for anyone wanting to understand the why, what and how of the post-liberal world.
Black Existentialism and Decolonizing Knowledge
Authors: Gordon Lewis R.
Published: October 2023

Black Existentialism and Decolonizing Knowledge collects key philosophical writings of Lewis R. Gordon, a globally renowned scholar whose writings cover liberation struggles across the globe and make field-defining contributions to the philosophy of existence, philosophy of race, Africana philosophy, philosophy of human sciences, aesthetics, and decolonization.

Gordon’s expansive output ranges across phenomenology, anti-Blackness, activist thinkers, sexuality, Fanon, Jimi Hendrix, Black Jewish struggles, critical pedagogy, psychoanalysis, and Ubuntu philosophy. Edited by Rozena Maart and Sayan Dey, two decolonial thinkers from South Africa and India, this reader shifts attention away from colonial centres of power, encouraging global dialogue across students, scholars, and activists. Featuring a foreword by the celebrated novelist and postcolonial thinker, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, this reader includes a mixture of research articles, short critical essays, reflections, interviews, poems, and photographs in the creative pursuit of liberation.
Freedom
Authors: Žižek Slavoj
Published: October 2023

“We are all afraid that new dangers pose a threat to our hard-won freedoms, so what deserves attention is precisely the notion of freedom.”

The concept of freedom is deceptively simple – we think we understand it, but the moment we try and define it we encounter contradictions. In this new philosophical exploration, Slavoj Žižek argues that the experience of true, radical freedom is transient and fragile. Countering the idea of libertarian individualism, Žižek draws on philosophers including Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Edith Wharton, and Timothy Morton, as well as the work of Kandinsky, Agatha Christie and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to examine the many facets of freedom and what we can learn from each of them.

Tracing its connection to a variety of issues, including environmental breakdown, capitalism, and war, he shows through this entertaining and illuminating journey how a deeper understanding of freedom can offer hope in dark times.
Lesbian Intimacies and Family Life
Authors: Jennings Rebecca
Published: October 2023

Focusing on patterns of intimacy, this book traces the historical roots of parenting practices and familial patterns constructed by lesbians and same-sex attracted women living in Britain and Australia between 1945 and 2000. It foregrounds women’s unique lived experiences, as they expressed desire, fell in love, and created families against the backdrop of changing cultural, legal, and medical attitudes to female same-sex desire in the late 20th century.

Including almost 100 original oral history interviews conducted by the author, Lesbian Intimacies and Family Life reveals the subjective histories of lesbian intimacy during the period, both highlighting the huge variety in women’s experiences, and tracing shifting patterns of relationship and family formation. Combined with analysis of representations of lesbian intimacy in literature, press articles, medical texts, and archival material, the book demonstrates the ways in which changing political and cultural concepts of sexuality impacted on individual and collective attitudes.

With a unique transnational perspective, Jennings uncovers how feminist and lesbian networks between Britain and Australia promoted knowledge sharing and helped foster change in the familial practices of each country – such as through the adoption of reproductive technologies and alternate routes into motherhood. Through considering the rise of divorce and challenges to traditional marriage practices in the period, this book highlights how lesbian relationships provided alternative models of interpersonal relations, impacting on broader patterns of sexuality, and helping redefine notions of the family in the modern era.
Creative Writing and Stylistics, Revised and Expanded Edition
Authors: Scott Jeremy
Published: October 2023

In this innovative fusion of practice and criticism, Jeremy Scott shows how insights from stylistics and linguistics can enrich the craft of creative writing. Focusing on crucial methodological issues that confront the practicing writer, this book introduces writers to key topics from stylistics, provides in-depth analysis of a wide range of writing examples and includes practical exercises to help develop creative writing skills.

Thoroughly revised and expanded throughout, this updated edition more clearly lays out specialist ideas and technical terms within the field of linguistics, and features both greater focus on the creative process and more practical exercises to help writers engage with ideas in their work.

Clear and accessible, this invaluable guide will give both students and writers a greater critical awareness of the creative possibilities of language.
The Black Experience in the Civil War South
Authors: Ash Stephen V.
Published: October 2023

The first book of its kind to appear in a generation, this comprehensive study details the experiences of the black men, women, and children who lived in the South during the traumatic time of secession and civil war.

The Black Experience in the Civil War South is the first comprehensive study of the Southern black wartime experience to appear in a generation. Incorporating the most recent scholarship, this thematically organized book does justice to the richness of its subject, looking at the lives of blacks in the Confederate states and the nonseceding Southern states; at blacks on farms and plantations and in towns and cities; at blacks employed in industry and the military; and at black men, women, and children.

Drawing on memoirs, autobiographies, and other original source materials, the author details the experiences of blacks who took up residence in Union “contraband camps” and on free-labor plantations and those who enlisted in the Union army. He introduces individuals who escaped from slavery, as well as the small minority of Southern blacks who were free when the war began. Most significantly, this revealing study deals not only with those who gained freedom during the war, but those whose freedom came only after the conflict’s end.
Clausewitz Reconsidered
Authors: Willmott H. P. , Barrett Michael B.
Published: October 2023

This fascinating book assesses Prussian military thinker Carl von Clausewitz’s famous theory on warfare in relation to historical and modern-day conflict—and future trends.

Carl von Clausewitz’s On War is arguably the most important single work ever written on the theory of warfare and military strategy. In Clausewitz Reconsidered, two prominent military historians assess his theories, examining their viability at a time when asymmetric warfare and "war" conducted by and against nonstate actors is increasingly common and state control often ephemeral.

The basis of the book’s analysis is an examination of war over the last four centuries, since the Thirty Years’ War, including the Cold War and subsequent conflicts. What is discovered is that war is far more endemic and brutal today than when Clausewitz tried to explain it. This volume explores that paradox and shows that if anything, we can anticipate further uncontrolled violence. The authors conclude that Clausewitz and On War have assumed a status akin to holy writ, but are obviously dated. The aim of Clausewitz Reconsidered is to bring the master’s theories up to date, providing the current generation with a new basis for thought and analysis.
Competing Chinese Political Visions
Authors: Lo Sonny Shiu-Hing
Published: October 2023

A fascinating analysis of the features of the Hong Kong-style democracy viewed as alien, hostile, potentially subversive, and substantially dangerous by the mainland Chinese Communist Party.

Competing Chinese Political Visions: Hong Kong vs. Beijing on Democracy examines the uniqueness of the Hong Kong model of democracy—a model the Chinese Communist Party not surprisingly views as too Westernized, excessively pluralistic, and too easily shaped by foreign intervention and influence.

Competing Chinese Political Visions examines the features that define Hong Kong's democracy, including competitive elections, a number of mini-political parties, legitimate checks and balances, the right to protest, and a vibrant social movement. Drawing on a wealth of recent research, noted Hong Kong expert Sonny Shiu-Hing Lo examines the role of Hong Kong in the June 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, discusses the leadership and visions of democratic leaders such as Martin Lee, and offer some bold predictions for the intertwined futures of Hong Kong and China.
Courtship and Marriage in Victorian England
Authors: Phegley Jennifer
Published: October 2023

This book examines the popular publications of the Victorian period, illuminating the intricacies of courtship and marriage from the differing perspectives of the working, middle, and upper classes.

In contemporary culture, the near obsessive pursuit of love and monogamous bliss is considered "normal," as evidenced by a wide range of online dating sites, television shows such as Sex in the City and The Bachelorette, and an endless stream of Hollywood romantic comedies. Ironically, when it comes to love and marriage, we still wrestle with many of the same emotional and social challenges as our 19th-century predecessors did over 100 years ago.

Courtship and Marriage in Victorian England draws on little-known conduct books, letter-writing manuals, domestic guidebooks, periodical articles, letters, and novels to reveal what the period equivalents of "dating" and "tying the knot" were like in the Victorian era. By addressing topics such as the etiquette of introductions and home visits, the roles of parents and chaperones, the events of the London season, model love letters, and the specific challenges facing domestic servants seeking spouses, author Jennifer Phegley provides a fascinating examination of British courtship and marriage rituals among the working, middle, and upper classes from the 1830s to the 1910s.
In Search of the Sacred
Authors: Nasr Seyyed Hossein , Jahanbegloo Ramin
Published: October 2023

In this book, a series of interviews offers an accessible, revealing, human and intellectual biography of leading Islamic scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr is one of the preeminent philosophers writing today. Sure to be a key resource for decades to come, In Search of the Sacred: A Conversation with Seyyed Hossein Nasr on His Life and Thought illuminates Nasr's experiences and shares his insights on topics from religion and philosophy to science and the arts.

Based on a series of interviews, the book combines traditional autobiography with an exploration of the intellectual and spiritual trajectories of the author's thought during key periods of his life. In doing so, it presents a fascinating panorama, not only of the life and ideas of one man, but also of major events ranging from intellectual life in Iran during the Pahlavi period and the Iranian Revolution to some of the major religious and intellectual debates between Islam and modernism. Nasr writes that his "whole life has been a quest for the sacred." This work connects that quest with some of the most important issues of the day in encounters between Islam and the West.
Intelligence Analysis
Authors: Hall Wayne Michael , Citrenbaum Gary
Published: October 2023

This book offers a vast conceptual and theoretical exploration of the ways intelligence analysis must change in order to succeed against today's most dangerous combatants and most complex irregular theatres of conflict.

Intelligence Analysis: How to Think in Complex Environments fills a void in the existing literature on contemporary warfare by examining the theoretical and conceptual foundations of effective modern intelligence analysis—the type of analysis needed to support military operations in modern, complex operational environments. This volume is an expert guide for rethinking intelligence analysis and understanding the true nature of the operational environment, adversaries, and most importantly, the populace.

Intelligence Analysis proposes substantive improvements in the way the U.S. national security system interprets intelligence, drawing on the groundbreaking work of theorists ranging from Carl von Clauswitz and Sun Tzu to M. Mitchell Waldrop, General David Petraeus, Richards Heuer, Jr., Orson Scott Card, and others. The new ideas presented here will help the nation to amass a formidable, cumulative intelligence power, with distinct advantages over any and all adversaries of the future regardless of the level of war or type of operational environment.
An Introduction to Military Ethics
Authors: Rhodes Bill
Published: October 2023

This comprehensive overview examines the many facets of military ethics as they are applied during times of armed conflict and times of peace.

An Introduction to Military Ethics: A Reference Handbook presents the philosophical and conceptual foundations of military ethics, offering an excellent foundation for exploration and discussion of these issues. It focuses first on the 2,500-year legacy of the "just war theory" and its application through history. It then moves to the application of that tradition in the modern era, showing how acts of terrorism by nonstate participants require a new theory and way of thinking about when and how armed force can be justifiably employed. Further, the author analyzes how new theories might alter the fundamental identity of traditional defensive military forces.

The book also addresses peacetime ethical issues, such as gender integration and the role of religion in the military. The book is essential reading for military officers and students, as well as those policymakers who confront decisions about how to deploy military force during the War on Terror.
The Murder Mystique
Authors: Nalepa Laurie , Pfefferman Richard
Published: October 2023

Although they account for only ten percent of all murders, those attributed to women seem especially likely to captivate the public. This absorbing book examines why that is true and how some women, literally, get away with murder.

Combining compelling storytelling with insightful observations, the book invites readers to take a close look at ten high-profile killings committed by American women. The work exposes the forces that underlie the public's fascination with female killers and determine why these women so often become instant celebrities. Cases are paired by motive—love, money, revenge, self-defense, and psychopathology. Through them, the authors examine the appeal of women who commit murders and show how perceptions of their crimes are shaped.

The book details both the crimes and the criminals as it explores how pop culture treats stereotypes of female murderers in film and print. True crime aficionados will be fascinated by the minute descriptions of what happened and why, while pop culture enthusiasts will appreciate the lens of societal norms through which these cases are examined.
NATO
Authors: Collins Brian J.
Published: October 2023

This superb introduction to NATO is written for the national security novice, yet is full of insights for the more seasoned hand interested in how and why NATO reached its current state.

In the more than half-century since NATO was founded, there has been endless debate about its purpose, about whether it is meeting that purpose, and about the strategies it employs to that end. Speculation has also been rife about the organization’s “imminent demise.” Those questions and more are the subject of NATO: A Guide to the Issues.

Covering the organization from its founding in 1949 through the present, the guide examines aspects of NATO that have undergone tremendous change over the years, including its purpose, military mission, geographic concept of operations, and membership. At the same time, it explores key aspects of NATO’s organization that have remained constant. These include the ability of members to participate in operations as much or as little as they desire, decision-making by consensus, and a general belief that people from different countries working together on a daily basis promotes cooperation, understanding, and friendship.
The New Face of America
Authors: Bailey Eric J.
Published: October 2023

This unique and important book investigates what it means to be multiracial and/or multiethnic in the United States, examining the issues involved from personal, societal, and cultural perspectives.

More and more, the idea of America as a melting pot is becoming a reality. Written from the perspective of multiracial citizens, The New Face of America: How the Emerging Multiracial, Multiethnic Majority Is Changing the United States brings to light the values, beliefs, opinions, and patterns among these populations. It assesses group identity and social recognition by others, and it communicates how multiracial individuals experience America's reaction to their increasing numbers.

Comprehensive and far-reaching, this thoughtful compendium covers the cultural history of multiracials in America. It looks at multiracial families today, at rural and urban multiracial populations, and at multiracial physical features, health disparities, bone and marrow transplant issues, adoption matters, as well as multiracial issues in other countries. Multiracial entertainers, athletes, and politicians are considered, as well. Among the book's most important topics is multiracial health and health care disparity. Finally, the book makes clear how America's current majority institutions, organizations, and corporations must change their relationship with multiracial and multiethnic populations if they wish to remain viable and competitive.