Rome: Palaces and Gardens

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Brand New LEATHER BOUND book accented in 22 kt gold.

The Quintessential Cleric II: Advanced Tactics (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)
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The Quintessential Cleric II: Advanced Tactics (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)
Ian Sturrock , and Anne Stokes
Manufacturer: Mongoose Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Role Playing & Fantasy | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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The Quintessential Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying)

The Quintessential Fighter II: Advanced Tactics (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

The Quintessential Barbarian II: Advanced Tactics (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

The Quintessential Elf II - Advanced Tactics (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

The Quintessential Rogue II: Advanced Tactics (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

ASIN: 1904577741

Book Description

Expanding the Quintessential II Advanced Tactics series to the Cleric character class, the Quintessential Cleric II neither replaces the original Quintessential Cleric, nor is the former book required. Instead, it forms a veritable toolbox for players of Cleric characters, expanding their options further than any sourcebook has yet taken them. From new career paths to advanced tactics designed to enable players to play a better Cleric, the Quintessential Cleric II: Advanced Tactics is the essential reading for those who prefer to use their wits rather than their swords.

Book Description

The Do's and Taboos series: over 600,000 satisfied readers-and counting!

"Roger Axtell is an international Emily Post."-The New Yorker

Roger Axtell's latest eye-opening guide to the pitfalls awaiting the business and leisure traveler is his funniest and most useful yet. Building on two invaluable ideas-"laughter has no accent" and "no matter where you travel in our world, there is one form of communication that is understood-the smile"-Axtell expertly combines fascinating business and leisure lore, more than 300 hilarious anecdotes, and loads of entertaining, invaluable advice on proper etiquette in dozens of countries. From embarrassing dining debacles to unintentionally lewd gestures, this delightful guide shows how to avoid cultural faux pas as you sidestep potential misunderstandings. If all else fails, always be ready to laugh at yourself!

Includes 26 whimsical illustrations by the award-winning cartoonist Mel Casson
* Discusses the often comical gaffes arising from differences between American English and the English spoken in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada
* Features dozens of cunning cognates, misinterpreted signs, unknowingly funny gestures, and business blunders to watch out for
* Helps travelers recognize the where, when, and how of using humor abroad

Customer Reviews:

Best Carry-On Item for Your Trips.......2006-11-10

A true must-have for international travelers or anyone venturing into a culture other than their own - the ultimate guide to leaving your "element" and environment - without forgoing your dignity. It is chock full of anecdotal, true stories of global business travelers and those on holiday. I literally laughed-out loud while reading this book. Passengers in my cabin scoffed at me in wonder, so I buried my face in the spine so the title could purposely be seen. Suffice to say, I may have boosted book sales from curiosity alone. I recommend this title for gifts, your library, or just to remain in your carry-on bag as it serves a great purpose for those perennially on the road. GET this book - available in softcover too!

more taboos than do........2003-03-25

This book is told, in a loose, style.The book repeats itself, from chapter,to chapter. and it`s more ho hum thanfunny. However, there are some lol,in this book, but they're a chore, to find. Axtell; fails to follow his own advice. "68% of your audience will quit listening, if you talk more than 20 minutes." This book is useful, for first time globe trotters, The lol chapter on cruising, is worth the price of the book.this book would've been better, if it include samples of lol jokes, from around the world.

Business Travel Humor by Roger E. Axtell.......2000-04-27

I read Mr. Axtell's book on use of humor in the international business environment with great interest. I also had quite a few good laughs doing that. I must confess, however, that I was a little disappointed by the fact that such a great deal of the anecdotes presented in this book have been circulating on the internet for a long time already.

This book is written for the American business people, and Mr. Axtell makes it clear. However, from the point-of-view of a "non-American" reader, there is a drawback attached: some of the anecdotes do not open up unless English--American English to be precise--is the reader's native language. He is left wondering what the point of the story was. Fortunately there are not many such instances.

This is not to say that you should not read this book if you are not an American. On the contrary, Mr. Axtell reveals, perhaps unintentionally, a useful insight into the mind of the average American commercial traveler who might be sitting next to you on an airplane, or on the opposite side of the negotiating table. Also, most of the book's content is sound advice applicable to any cross-cultural business situations.

Customer Reviews:

Psychoanalytic film theory.......2000-05-22

Metz's work is generally considered to be essential reading for the study of film theory. When I first read this particular text, I found myself disagreeing with the psychoanalytic interpretation of the relationship that exists between film (the immaginary signifier) and the spectator. My frustration came from the apparent reduction of the cinema down to psychoanalytic terms and ideas that appear to limit our understanding of this complex artistic medium. If the reader agrees with the Lacanian model of the development of the subject, then these problems will not develop, however it seems that this particular interpretation leaves alot of questions unanswered. Putting these disputes aside, I think that this work is monumental because of Metz's penetrating (no pun)insight into the nature of the signifier. Even if the reader does not agree with his particular method of interpretation, his ideas that come from his deep critical examination make the text a very worthwhile one to read.

An essential film theory text.......1999-07-20

Metz attempts to compare the structures of the motion picture with the structure of language. In practice it doesn't always succeed, but this is considered a critical work in the field of film theory.

Imaginary Signifier: Psychoanalysis and the Cinema. Tr from the French by Ben Brewster. Tr of Le Signifiant Imaginaire

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Imaginary Signifier: Psychoanalysis and the Cinema. Tr from the French by Ben Brewster. Tr of Le Signifiant Imaginaire
Christian Metz
Manufacturer: Indiana Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0253331056

The Imaginary Signifier : Psychoanalysis and the Cinema

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The Imaginary Signifier : Psychoanalysis and the Cinema
Christian; Britton, Celia (translator); Williams, Annwyl (translator) Metz
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBOOI6

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The Imaginary Signifier: Psychoanalysis and the Cinema
Chriatian Metz
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQ48XA

Book Description

The editor has drawn from a wide range of subject matter covering an international spectrum of climbing activity. While representing a modern outlook on the sport, the best of the older writers is included.

Customer Reviews:

an excellent climbing anthology.......2001-02-05

"Mirrors in the Cliffs" is the follow up to the anthology "Games Climbers Play." While "Games" emphasized British climbing, "Mirrors" includes more writings from American and French authors. The selection is heavily tilted towards the 50s through the 70s, and includes wonderful lighthearted accounts such as Terry King's "With God on our Side" (about climbing the Orion Direct with an inexperienced Priest) and and Pete Livesey's "Travels with a Donkey" along with more serious pieces about ethics, risks and controversies. Since I love the British writings of the 50s, 60s and 70s, I was thrilled to find Dougal Haston's "Nightshift in Zero" and Robin Smith's "Snakes and Ladders." If you love climbing, or even just reading about climbing, you've got to get this book! My only small complaint is there are perhaps a dozen pieces taken from books that are easily accessible (Tom Patey's "One Man's Mountains" and expedition books) that take up space better spent on more obscure passages. Still, it's worth every penny!

Latino Boom!: Everything You Need to Know to Grow Your Business in the U.S. Hispanic Market
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Quick, easy read on how to do well in Hispanic Marketing

Disappointed

Comprehensive and informative

Serious About Business, Then This Is A Must Have

Worth reading!

Latino Boom!: Everything You Need to Know to Grow Your Business in the U.S. Hispanic Market
Chiqui Cartagena
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Consumer Behavior | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Research | Marketing | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Hispanic American Studies | Special Groups | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Hispanic Marketing: A Cultural Perspective

The Whole Enchilada: Hispanic Marketing 101

How to Win The Hispanic Gold RushTM: Critical Cultural, Demographic, Marketing, and Motivational Factors

Marketing to Hispanics: A Strategic Approach to Assessing and Planning Your Initiative

Latinos, Inc.: The Marketing and Making of a People

ASIN: 0345482352
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Book Description

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling Pampers, blue jeans, cars, or credit cards, the Hispanic community is a market you must include in your business plans.”
–Chiqui Cartagena

It’s the largest demographic group in America–and one with an ever-expanding buying power. Now media pioneer Chiqui Cartagena, an expert on the Hispanic market, has written an indispensable, fact-packed guide that will help anyone trying to successfully reach this crucial community.

The median household income of a Hispanic family is already $4,000 higher than that of an African American family; the disposable income of the Hispanic population is expected to top $1 trillion by 2010; and the average Hispanic citizen is ten years younger than the general market. The business opportunities are endless, but only if you know whom to hire, what to sell, and where to target.

Latino Boom! explains all that and much more, including
• the best ways to approach the three different Latino groups (Isolated, Acculturated, and Assimilated)
• the reasons why “other” Hispanics (those who aren’t Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban) have become an increasingly important sub group
• the increasing influence of consumer-savvy Hispanic teenagers, who play an important role in urban trendsetting
• why Latino consumer behavior makes for a different market than that of the general market or other minority markets
• why companies can succeed wildly or fail miserably in trying to reach this market
• the key differences among America’s top ten cities with the largest Latino populations

Any company will benefit from the authoritative advice in this easy-to-use guide. As Chiqui Cartagena says, “You can spend $20,000 on a consultant, or you can buy this book.”

Customer Reviews:

Quick, easy read on how to do well in Hispanic Marketing.......2007-01-09

Latino Boom! is a must read for anyone seriously interested in marketing to the Hispanic population. Chiqui Cartagena has captured the essence of what it takes to reach America's fastest growing segment and does so in an easy to read, easy to apply manner. She's current and engaging. A good read for marketing professionals.

Disappointed.......2007-01-04

As a Hispanic business person looking to hone in on my target market, this book was lousy. It gives little marketing advice and too much emphasis on demographics. If I was confused and disappoint, I can imagine how someone else trying to understand and enter this market must feel after reading this book.

Comprehensive and informative.......2006-05-04

This is a very comprehensive and informative book on the origins of the Latino market with a lot of data backing up the research. If you want statistics and history-if you want to know how to grow your business in the US Hispanic market, you might want to try another book on marketing.

Serious About Business, Then This Is A Must Have.......2006-03-01

I hope that serious business people will have the insight and ability to forsee what the US will look like in the years to come. Those that don't or are to arrogant to do so will be left behind. This book is the Blueprint.

Worth reading!.......2006-02-09

The title of this book grabbed my attention. Skeptically, I thought, "How can a 232-page book tell me everything I need to grow my company in a market worth about $780 billion today?"

Written by Hispanic marketing pioneer Chiqui Cartagena, Latino Boom! delivers useful information for market researchers and business people interested in learning more about the historical rise of Hispanic marketing media, particularly powerhouses like Univision and Telemundo.

The author begins with a historical overview of Hispanics in the United States and discusses general demographic information including population growth, geographic concentration, buying power, employment, and language preference. She demystifies the "Hispanic or Latino?" debate by explaining the differences in these terminologies. The author also identifies the different segments within the Hispanic market often overlooked by mass marketing approaches. These segments include isolated, acculturated, and assimilated Hispanics.

In subsequent chapters, Cartagena provides a market-by-market overview of the top 10 Hispanic markets including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Houston. She also provides a lengthy review and chronology about the history of Spanish-language television, radio, and print media and briefly touches upon the online and direct marketing approaches to this market. Chapter nine on the ten mistakes to avoid, and the Resource Guide at the end of this book are particularly useful for newcomers to this market.

The clear writing and descriptive charts and tables make this an easy book to understand, particularly for readers who need visuals and pictures to interpret written explanations. Though the research agencies cited are reputable, the author acknowledges that her research is based upon data sponsored through media sources with a vested interest in growing advertising in this market. This sponsorship could potentially bias the data to some degree. Latino Boom! is a good reference although its relevance may diminish over time as the demographic information becomes out-of-date after the 2010 Census.

While I'm not convinced this book provides as the subtitle says, "Everything You Need to Know," particularly for small businesses and entrepreneurs, it does offer solid, well-researched, and effectively conveyed information.

Armchair Interviews highly recommends this book for marketing researchers and business executives interested in developing a general knowledge of the Hispanic market and how to reach segments within it.

Amazon.com

Best known for his syndicated sexual advice column, "Savage Love," Dan Savage shares his own story in The Kid, a hilarious account of his efforts--along with his partner--to adopt a child. (Whoops, make that his boyfriend; Savage can't stand the "genderless" P-word: "Straight people and press organs that want to acknowledge gay relationships while at the same time pushing the two-penises stuff as far out of their minds as possible love 'partner.' I hated it.") Savage doesn't give an inch on the sexuality issue; it's hard to imagine that a homophobic reader would even pick up The Kid, but if it happened, Savage's unapologetic presentation of his life would quickly scare that reader off. Which isn't to say that he paints a rosy picture of homosexual cohabitation: the very first scene finds Dan's boyfriend, Terry, locking himself in the bathroom after a fight over the music on the car stereo. The misadventures continue through each step of the open-adoption process, in which Dan and Terry get to know their baby's birth mother, and the first few weeks of parenthood. The Kid is a wonderful, charming account of real "family values" that proves love knows no limits.

Book Description

Dan Savage's nationally syndicated sex advice column, "Savage Love," enrages and excites more than four million people each week. In The Kid, Savage tells a no-holds-barred, high-energy story of an ordinary American couple who wants to have a baby. Except that in this case the couple happens to be Dan and his boyfriend. That fact, in the face of a society enormously uneasy with gay adoption, makes for an edgy, entertaining, and illuminating read. When Dan and his boyfriend are finally presented with an infant badly in need of parenting, they find themselves caught up in a drama that extends well beyond the confines of their immediate world. A story about confronting homophobia, falling in love, getting older, and getting a little bit smarter, The Kid is a book about the very human desire to have a family.

"A disarmingly frank, wickedly funny account of an ultimately successful quest to adopt a baby." --People

"Very funny . . . Compelling and moving." --Newsday

Customer Reviews:

My introduction to Dan Savage's mind..........2007-05-13

The book was totally amusing - I found myself having to stop reading in several places to laugh out loud.

Dan expressed so well the urge of all humans - gay and straight - to leave something of themselves behind in their children.

For us straight people, it was a nice introduction to the world of gay people. Explaining the lifestyle - and how very much the same we all are.

I'm very much looking forward to reading his other books now.

This book is good..........2007-04-07

I love adoption stories and after hearing Dan Savage on "This American Life" talk about the impact of TV on his young son I wanted to read this book. "The Kid" reminded me of Clara: The Early Years: The Story of the Pug Who Ruled My Life, in which the author relates the tale of adopting her son from Russia (despite the title). Adoption stories are often as long, complicated, and painful as stories of recovery from addiction. There is always a beginning of tenuous hope, a middle riddled with nagging fear, and finally, an end of joyful success which is only the beginning of a new life. Dan Savage writes with wonderful honesty and humor about an authenically scary life decision. His true talent as a writer shines forth in this book. It's a fun read and informative as well if you're planning to adopt.

Honest account.......2006-03-29

This is such a cute, humorous and honest story; a very entertaining and easy read.

Made Me Weep.......2005-12-31

This is an incredibly honest recounting of how the author and his boyfriend adopted a child. It was fascinating to read about "open adoption", at the time of the book only legal in three states, Washington, Oregon and New Mexico. This system is where the birth mother is allowed to choose the adopting couple and continues to visit the child after giving birth. Worried that no young mother would choose a gay couple, they still go through with the grueling application and review process and are rewarded by being the first couple in their orientation group to be picked. The mother is truly a fascinatingly real character and Savage does a wonderful job portraying her. The scene at the hospital when they finally take the baby is heart wrenching and the author beautifully explains how experiencing the mother's grief completely validates the open adoption approach. This simple book encompasses so much about the human condition it becomes a spiritual beacon of tolerance and compassion.

A Defense of the Book.......2005-11-16

I felt I had to respond after one person failed miserably in reading comprehension. First, in the beginning of the book Savage made the point and he and Terry had discussed infidelity and were committed enough to their relationship that that would not be enough to break them up. As to the claims about the birthmother being mentally ill, they took care to show that she wasn't. She was able to care for herself, make logical decisions and was sane enough to know that her chosen lifestyle made it impossible to be a good mother to her son, hence choosing adoption. And they didn't relocate to get away from her. They lived in Seattle and used an agency there. She was currently living in Portland, but since she regularly moved from city to city, it wasn't an issue. In fact, those who bother to read the whole thing will discover a chapter in which they flew to L.A. to meet with her after the birth and to allow the birthfather to see the baby. (And according to the legal agreement they signed, they can't keep her from seeing the kid a certain number of times a year, and Savage himself deplored the fact that some adoptive parents don't follow the signed agreements.) A lot of the other complaints seem based on the fact that the reviewer could not tell sarcastic humor from genuine sentiment. Savage is not a hearts&roses style writer. He's a hardcore cynic and likes making shocking jokes, like his fake birthmother letter in which he jests about having drug addicted friends babysit. For every time he made a joke about a baby as an expensive hobby, he also mentioned looking forward to being able to teach him to walk and talk and later watching his Little League games. Plenty of other writers have made similar jokes about their children - Erma Bombeck said she wanted to trade hers in for dogs, Bill Cosby has written about wanting to send his to jail for being annoying. It has nothing to do with how they actually parent - they're just trying for a laugh. Plus, if he really thought it was just a lark, would he and his boyfriend have gone through so much to adopt?

This book has left me much more optomistic about gay adoption, but pessimistic as to the literacy of people on the internet.

The Kid (What Happened after my boyfriend and I decided to go get Pregnant"

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The Kid (What Happened after my boyfriend and I decided to go get Pregnant"

Manufacturer: Dutton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I2WHHO

The Kid (What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to go Get Pregnant): An Adoption Story

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The Kid (What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to go Get Pregnant): An Adoption Story
Dan SAVAGE
Manufacturer: Dutton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OPEHBE

Book Description

16-page b/w photo section, 20 maps,6 x 9
The role of the field artillery in the Civil War is often overlooked in favor of the more romantic views of great cavalry commanders or infantrymen. But the reality was that without the field artillery, many of the decisive battles won by the Army of the Potomac most likely would have resulted in defeat and/or destruction. Grape and Canister, first published in 1960, has since become a classic and remains the definitive study of the field artillery of the Army of the Potomac. This long-awaited second edition includes new maps and photos, updated annotations, and a more comprehensive bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

Vivid Battle Detail.......2006-02-13

L. Vanloan Naisawald, is an excellent writer who provides vivid battle detail of the often neglected actions of the Federal artillery. Because of the lack of good maps, an all to common problem with military history books, it can be somewhat difficult to fully understand the action described, especially without prior reading on the battles of the Army of the Potomac. The author believes that long range shrapnel was largely ineffective, which is debatable, and also that artillery was only effective at short range on the defensive. The author's tactical analysis is probably hindered by this as well as his belief that the rifled musket had revolutionized warfare, making gunners much more vulnerable. For a full view of artillery during the Civil War, you should also read Phillip Cole's "Civil War Artillery at Gettysburg". Nevertheless, Naisawald's book is solid, the standard book on its subject, and is particularly strong with its analysis of the army's organizational flaws concerning the artillery and the negative and possibly decisive effects of these flaws in battle.

Action Front!.......2000-12-28

Artillery is undoubtedly the least understood of the combat arms. It is an arm that requires the utmost skill from both the officers and enlisted men, as well as mere brute strength in handling their guns. Serving the guns in combat, on campaign, as well as maintaining their ability to operate in all weathers and climates requires skill, dedication, and plain hard work. They had all the problems a cavalry outfit had, multiplied three-fold. Forage, blacksmithing, care of their animals, all had to be accomplished to be able to put the battery on the road to the rumbling guns.

Few authors have taken up the challenge to write about this challenging and exciting topic, but Naisawald, and his colleague Fairfax Downey, have painted a clear picture of what it was like to be an artilleryman in the Civil War in the books each has written. This one by Naisawald is a masterpiece.

Painstakingly researched, consisely written, and presented in a format that is easy to follow, the author has presented us with a chronicle that has yet to be surpassed and has seldom been equalled. The story of the artillery of the Army of the Potomac is one of frustration, glory, hard work, and ultimate success. Their best day was undoubtedly the third day of Gettysburg, where they nearly defeated Pickett on their own (their commander, Henry J. Hunt swore to his dying day that if he not been forced to fire counterbattery missions to the Confederate bombardment, he would have had enough long range ammunition to do exactly that-seeing what his artilleymen did do, he was undoubtedly correct), a close second being their performance at the Battle of Antietam, where they literally blew the artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia off the battlefield.

These and other tales await the reader in this excellent volume. It is merely for them to pick it up and read it.

The ultimate history of Federal Artillery in the East.......2000-09-30

The subtitle says it all: The Story of the Field Artillery of the Army of the Potomac 1861-1865, Second Edition. It is the well told story of that Army, and its artillery long arm. Naisawald follows the history of the battles, and the story of the individual Batteries and Gun Crews. There is a very good reason this book was re-published 39 years after its first printing-- I consider it THE history of the subject. The cover flaps are accurate: "The field artillery's story is a dramatic one, filled with individual heros and bumbling commanders, with gallant stands and crushing victories. Military historian VanLoan Naisawald, a former artillery officer, vividly re-creates the color and excitement of these battles, using original battle histories and following specific [batteries] into the heat of combat... He portrays the life of the ordinary Federal gunner... In describing the different types of weapons used and explaining the army's method of handling them, Mr. Naisawald defty shows what the guns of the period could do. He traces the development of the concept of massed [artillery] attack and artillery corps battle support that begun in the battles [of the Civil War] and are still being used in modern tactical warfare." The Civil War Reinactor can learn of the combat record of a unit, but he won't get a manual of arms for operating a artillery piece. It is a history book, not a how-to book. Grape and Canister was recomended to me by a Park Ranger/historian at The Wilderness Battlefield Park, and I wholehartedly concur with him. I consider it THE history of the Field Artillery of the Army of the Potomac.

Book Description

Employing analytical tools borrowed from game theory, Carles Boix offers a complete theory of political transitions. It is one in which political regimes ultimately depend on the nature of economic assets, their distribution among individuals, and the balance of power among different social groups. Backed by detailed historical research and extensive statistical analysis from the mid-nineteenth century, the study reveals why democracy emerged in classical Athens. It also covers the early triumph of democracy in nineteenth-century agrarian Norway, Switzerland and northeastern America as well as its failure in countries with a powerful landowning class.

Customer Reviews:

Asset Specificity, Equality, and Democracy.......2007-02-11

Boix seeks to explain the emergence of various political systems; particularly the transitions between democratic governments, right-wing authoritarian regimes, and left-wing dictatorships. However, Boix's use of triangulated research - the combination of quantitative and qualitative measures - provides a more accurate explanation of regime transition than Lipset's original work.

Boix uses three main independent variables to explain political outcomes. First, Boix examines rates of inequality. He suggests that a nation with a more equitable distribution of assets is likely to see the emergence of a democratic regime. Boix writes, "A more unequal distribution of wealth increases the redistributive demands of the population and the ultimate level of taxes in a democratic system. As the potential level of transfers become larger, the authoritarian inclination of the wealthy increase and the probabilities of democratization and democratic survival decline" (37).

Second, Boix examines the specificity of assets, that is, whether or not assets are expropiatable to other countries. The author contends that the more liquid an asset, the more likely a democratic regime will emerge. Boix asserts that if the wealthy are able to expropriate their assets to other nations, these assets are less likely to be taxed heavily by the poor. As such, the upper classes will be more receptive to a democratic regime. On the other hand, assets that are nontransferable - such as oil wealth - are likely to be subject to heavy taxation by the poor if a democratic regime took hold. As such, it is in the best interest of the wealthy elite to repress the poor and protect their monopoly of assets.

Lastly, Boix looks at the impact of political resources on regime transition. The costs and benefits of repression or revolt fluctuate between social classes under various circumstances. Boix argues that, holding inequality and specificity constant, the conflict between these oppositional groups, and their relative political strengths and weaknesses, lead to the emergence of specific regime types. He writes, "rich and poor assess both the income and benefits associated with each political regime and the costs of achieving their preferred solution" (44). For example, an authoritarian regime often operates in the interests of the ruling elite. So long as the costs of repressing the poor are less than the costs of granting universal suffrage, authoritarianism will continue. On the other hand, if a shift in the balance of power between classes occurs, transition becomes more likely. Boix argues that as the poor gain political resources, and overcome the problems of collective action, they are likely to put pressure on the upper classes (45). The cost of repression to the wealthy then becomes too high to justify continued authoritarianism and democracy emerges. If the poor believe that they have gained political power, or that the cost of being repressed has become unbearable, revolt ensues, and a left-wing dictatorship takes over.

Boix's combination of econometric techniques and qualitative analysis has reexamined the modernization and democratization debate and will prove a lasting contribution to the field.

Multiculturalism and the Welfare State: Recognition and Redistribution in Contemporary Democracies

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Multiculturalism and the Welfare State: Recognition and Redistribution in Contemporary Democracies

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Non-US Legal Systems | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Art of the State: Belonging? Diversity, Recognition, and Shared Citizenship in Canada
A Secular Age
Multiculturalism in Asia
Politics in the Vernacular: Nationalism, Multiculturalism, and Citizenship
Culture and Equality: An Egalitarian Critique of Multiculturalism

ASIN: 0199289182

Book Description

In many Western democracies, ethnic and racial minorities have demanded, and sometimes achieved, greater recognition and accommodation of their identities. This is reflected in the adoption of multiculturalism policies for immigrant groups, the acceptance of territorial autonomy and language rights for national minorities, and the recognition of land claims and self-government rights for indigenous peoples. These claims for recognition have been controversial, in part because of fears that they make it more difficult to sustain a robust welfare state by eroding the interpersonal trust, social solidarity and political coalitions that sustain redistribution. Are these fears of a conflict between a "politics of recognition" and a "politics of redistribution" valid? This volume is the first systematic attempt to empirically test this question, using both cross-national statistical analyses of the relationships among diversity policies, public attitudes and the welfare state, and case studies of the recognition/ redistribution linkage in the political coalitions in particular countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, and in Latin America. These studies suggest that that there is no general or inherent tendency for recognition to undermine redistribution, and that the relationship between these two forms of politics can be supportive as well as competitive, depending on the context. These findings shed important light, not only on the nature and effects of multiculturalism, but also on wider debates about the social and political foundations of the welfare state, and indeed about our most basic concepts of citizenship and national identity. As a ground-breaking attempt to connect the literatures on multiculturalism and the welfare state, this volume will be of great interest to a wide range of scholars and practitioners who work on issues of ethnocultural diversity and social policy.

A little fairness may induce a lot of redistribution in democracy [An article from: European Economic Review]

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A little fairness may induce a lot of redistribution in democracy [An article from: European Economic Review]
J.R. Tyran , and R. Sausgruber
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RR774I

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from European Economic Review, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
We use a model of self-centered inequality aversion suggested by Fehr and Schmidt (Quart. J. Econom. 114 (3) (1999) 817) to study voting on redistribution. We theoretically identify two classes of conditions when an empirically plausible amount of fairness preferences induces redistribution through referenda. We test the predictions of the adapted inequality aversion model in a simple redistribution experiment and find that it predicts voting outcomes far better than the standard model of voting assuming rationality and strict self-interest.

Multiculturalism, liberalism, and philosophy *.(Culture and Equality: An Egalitarian Critique of Multiculturalism)(Redistribution or Recognition? A Political-Philosophical ... review): An article from: Polity

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Multiculturalism, liberalism, and philosophy *.(Culture and Equality: An Egalitarian Critique of Multiculturalism)(Redistribution or Recognition? A Political-Philosophical ... review): An article from: Polity
Brent L. Pickett
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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This digital document is an article from Polity, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2006. The length of the article is 7807 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Multiculturalism, liberalism, and philosophy *.(Culture and Equality: An Egalitarian Critique of Multiculturalism)(Redistribution or Recognition? A Political-Philosophical Exchange)(Identity in Democracy)(Book review)
Author: Brent L. Pickett
Publication: Polity (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Page: 134(17)

Article Type: Book review

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Redistributive taxation in democracies: Evidence on people's satisfaction [An article from: European Journal of Political Economy]

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Redistributive taxation in democracies: Evidence on people's satisfaction [An article from: European Journal of Political Economy]
M. Bernasconi
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000PAUPPA

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from European Journal of Political Economy, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Theories of political redistribution are tested using data collected in three phases of the International Social Survey Programme. Individuals categorized as having high, middle, or low incomes were asked whether they consider the overall tax burden in their countries too high, too low or about right. Very few citizens indicated that they were satisfied with tax systems; most believed that taxes on low and middle incomes are too high, while taxes on high incomes are too low. Support for tax systems is bimodal within the income classes, with the richest 5% being the most supportive, and the median in a population being second. Ideological values have a strong impact on political support for redistribution across all income classes. The results bear witness to the multidimensional nature of preferences for redistribution, and to the delicate question of the effectiveness of democracy in implementing citizens' preferences.

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