Critical Studies in Democracy and Political Literacy

ISSN: 2166-5036

Why do so few people vote? What is political engagement? How does education intersect with democracy and political literacy? What can be learned from interdisciplinary studies on democracy? How do we cultivate political literacy? What is the relevance of elections in light of war, poverty, discrimination, social inequalities, etc.? What are the alternatives to the traditional electoral, representative, party-politics models that have characterized our societies? Is the mainstream media holding government to account, disseminating propaganda or fuelling the need to pacify the population? How do international systems, approaches and realities related to democracy compare, and what can we learn from others? These are some of the questions that are addressed through this book series. Seeking to fill an important gap in the literature, this book series takes on the theme of democracy in a multi-/inter-disciplinary, comprehensive, and critical way. Some books have democracy in the title but do not make it the focus, and often books that address more directly, for example, multiculturalism, media studies, or school reform may delve into the area of democracy without fully deconstructing what it is, how it functions, how people can shape and intersect with it, and how it is used (or misused) to distort power relations, which is at the base of teaching, learning and action. Thus, a broader range of materials specifically tailored to teacher-education and scholars within the education field is desirable. Similarly, the overlapping and interdisciplinary nature of the study of democracy bleeds naturally into the areas of media studies, sociology, political science, peace studies, multiculturalism, feminist studies, and cultural studies, etc., all of which have a natural and inextricable relationship to and within education.

6 publications

Democracy, Human Rights, Integration, Radicalisation and Security

Die Reihe "Democracy, Human Rights, Integration, Radicalisation and Security" veröffentlicht Studien aus dem Bereich der Politikwissenschaft und der Soziologie. Die Publikationen in der Reihe befassen sich dabei mit dem Spannungsfeld zwischen den positiven Entwicklungen von Demokratie und Menschenrechten auf der einen Seite und den sicherheitspolitischen Herausforderungen durch Radikalisierung auf der anderen Seite. Herausgegeben wird die Reihe von der European Foundation of Democracy. Die Reihe "Democracy, Human Rights, Integration, Radicalisation and Security" veröffentlicht Studien aus dem Bereich der Politikwissenschaft und der Soziologie. Die Publikationen in der Reihe befassen sich dabei mit dem Spannungsfeld zwischen den positiven Entwicklungen von Demokratie und Menschenrechten auf der einen Seite und den sicherheitspolitischen Herausforderungen durch Radikalisierung auf der anderen Seite. Herausgegeben wird die Reihe von der European Foundation of Democracy. Die Reihe "Democracy, Human Rights, Integration, Radicalisation and Security" veröffentlicht Studien aus dem Bereich der Politikwissenschaft und der Soziologie. Die Publikationen in der Reihe befassen sich dabei mit dem Spannungsfeld zwischen den positiven Entwicklungen von Demokratie und Menschenrechten auf der einen Seite und den sicherheitspolitischen Herausforderungen durch Radikalisierung auf der anderen Seite. Herausgegeben wird die Reihe von der European Foundation of Democracy.

2 publications

Changing Democracy and Systems of Differences and Adjustments

"The series is intended as a collection of original and critical political-philosophicalworks as well as interdisciplinary studies on contemporary trends within democracy, its counter-actors, and transparent–global market players. Authors representing various backgrounds and standpoints are encouraged in order to engage in the political philosophy; theoretical and mathematical analyses on politics; cyber society; environments; economics; civil, constitutional, and international law (e.g. legal transplants); human rights; social psychology; and sociology. The series used to collect the best global achievements and standards. Accordingly, the series has been provided in Spanish, Japanese, [Modern] Greek, German, French, and English but all double-peer-reviewed and accepted manuscripts should contain an English translation of its detailed contents and a résumé written in English. The world of the social has been rich enough to suggest no leading theoretical standpoint and no approaches of investigations are expected as imposed to the subject but normative studies on changing democracy and systems of differences and adjustments are not preferred because every non-changeable thing/idea disappears." "The series is intended as a collection of original and critical political-philosophicalworks as well as interdisciplinary studies on contemporary trends within democracy, its counter-actors, and transparent–global market players. Authors representing various backgrounds and standpoints are encouraged in order to engage in the political philosophy; theoretical and mathematical analyses on politics; cyber society; environments; economics; civil, constitutional, and international law (e.g. legal transplants); human rights; social psychology; and sociology. The series used to collect the best global achievements and standards. Accordingly, the series has been provided in Spanish, Japanese, [Modern] Greek, German, French, and English but all double-peer-reviewed and accepted manuscripts should contain an English translation of its detailed contents and a résumé written in English. The world of the social has been rich enough to suggest no leading theoretical standpoint and no approaches of investigations are expected as imposed to the subject but normative studies on changing democracy and systems of differences and adjustments are not preferred because every non-changeable thing/idea disappears."

1 publications

Studies in Communication and Politics

ISSN: 2197-1625

Technological development and the emergence of new notions of media and media-like services (blogs, online gaming, social networks, wikis, virtual worlds etc.) have changed the nature of communication, making it more open, personalized, fragmented and interactive. At the same a shift in paradigms in relation to traditional concepts of democracy, political communication and public participation has been observed. All of this has an impact on the functioning of contemporary societies and offers a wide range of opportunities for reexamination and redefinition of several concepts in social science. In Studies in Communication and Politics the editors are particularly interested in changing approaches to democracy, communication, political participation and media. By publishing collaborative works and monographs they aim at supporting and promoting interdisciplinary research, offering comparative approach and/or examining national factors for communication and politics development. Hence, the emphasis here is being put on the changing approaches to democracy and its institutions, political actors, electoral campaigns, as well as citizens' participation in political processes, electoral behavior, and so on. Having in mind the changing media landscape and the rise of media ecologies we also aim at investigating emerging communication and media policies, evolution of journalism culture, changing patterns of users' behavior and media innovations in the digital and multiplatform scenario. All of this when taking into account interrelations between communication and as well as the role of media in contemporary politics. The editors believe that the topic presented here will stimulate international and interdisciplinary research changes and challenges facing communication and politics today. We also hope that the wide range of approaches presented in each collection will be of interest for researchers, academic experts as well as policy makers and media professionals who might be particularly interested in taking a part in the debate on emerging theories and practices.

24 publications

Katowice Interdisciplinary and Comparative Studies

This newly launched series creates the opportunity for those scholars who, on the one hand, wish to see literary works in the unceasing dialogue with other arts and, on the other, want to rethink literary theory in terms of its embededness in the reflection which involves notions crucial for the shape of contemporary human community such as democracy, justice, friendship, hospitality, home, passions, and many others. Thus we invite essays on a wide range of topics which include studies of individual texts placing them in a rich web of comparative references not turning away from the body-politic, interpretations of texts and images as important ways towards the formation of cultural identity, explorations of the dialogue between the word and the image with the complicated transpositions taking place in the process, as well as in-depth investigations of particular notions in their historical and multicultural contexts. The analyses undertaken by the authors in this series will make a serious contribution to a better understanding of the notions and processes constituting our being together. This newly launched series creates the opportunity for those scholars who, on the one hand, wish to see literary works in the unceasing dialogue with other arts and, on the other, want to rethink literary theory in terms of its embededness in the reflection which involves notions crucial for the shape of contemporary human community such as democracy, justice, friendship, hospitality, home, passions, and many others. Thus we invite essays on a wide range of topics which include studies of individual texts placing them in a rich web of comparative references not turning away from the body-politic, interpretations of texts and images as important ways towards the formation of cultural identity, explorations of the dialogue between the word and the image with the complicated transpositions taking place in the process, as well as in-depth investigations of particular notions in their historical and multicultural contexts. The analyses undertaken by the authors in this series will make a serious contribution to a better understanding of the notions and processes constituting our being together.

5 publications

Liberatory Stories and Rebel Voices for Abolition

Liberatory Stories and Rebel Voices for Abolition is a grass-roots, community-focused, radical, transformativ, critical decolonizing, anti-authoritarian book series on the political delineations of transforming education for liberation in communities occupying Indigenous territories and stolen land on Turtle Island (North America) and beyond. This book series will provide space and place for marginalized communities, students, workers, public intellectuals, activist-scholars, teachers, professors, justice impacted people, youth, and oppressed voices to critically resist and amplify their counter-stories which demand that, in the rollout of the neoliberal agendas, public education must be affordable, inclusive, equitable, inclusive, just, transformative, and open to all. This book series foregrounds writer’s agency with authentic story-telling, autoethnography, collective biography, and life writing narratives and is a place for disseminating participatory action and social justice activist research. It seeks critical teaching and critical writing that resists Eurocentric pedagogies and methodologies such as denotative reports, standardized metrics, rubrics, corporate, neoliberal, capitalist, standardized, colonial, factory education that colonizes the mind. Instead, the series privileges radical liberatory praxis and makes space for outstanding embodied action research tied to teaching, transformative participatory projects created with not ‘on’ marginalized communities that centers the margin. This book series defends, supports, and participates in revolutionary, transformative, social justice radical critical abolition movements to end authoritarianism, domination, oppression, state-violence, and repression. This book series has a hope for democracy from which knowledge from and for the margins emerge as powerful counter-currents and disruptive discourses that liberate. This book series holds space and place for these voices who brave the world with knowledge in one hand and resistance in the other to liberate all.

7 publications

Human Right Studies

ISSN: 2294-8848

The legal and political significance of human rights has increased enormously at the international and European levels. It has become increasingly clear that the respect and promotion of human rights must be at the centre of States and local communities' public policies and that human rights are the basis of civil society initiatives and movements. There is a large mechanism, at all levels of governance, monitoring the way in which States implement the obligations they have assumed towards each person under their sovereignty. The Italian Yearbook of Human Rights Series provides year by year, a dynamic and up-to date overview of the measures Italy has taken to adapt its legislation and policies in line with international human rights law and to comply with the commitments voluntarily assumed by the Italian Government at the international level. The book series thus intends to contribute to the continuous monitoring activity of the human rights situation in Italy undertaken at the local, national and international levels by the relevant intergovernmental and civil society actors. Each volume of this series surveys the activities carried out, during the year of reference, by the relevant national and local Italian actors, including governmental bodies, civil society organisations and universities. It also presents reports and recommendations that have been addressed to Italy by international monitoring bodies within the framework of the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the European Union. Finally, each Yearbook provides a selection of examples from international and national case law that cast light on Italy’s position vis-à-vis internationally recognised human rights. The Yearbook is edited by the Human Rights Centre of the University of Padua, in cooperation with the UNESCO Chair in Human Rights, Democracy and Peace of the same university, and with the support of the Region of Veneto. The Centre, established in 1982, carries out research and education following a global and interdisciplinary approach. It hosts the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on intercultural dialogue, human rights and multi-level governance.

11 publications

Régionalisme & Fédéralisme / Regionalism & Federalism

The contemporary nation-state is undergoing a series of transformations which question its traditional role as a container of social, political and economic systems. New spaces are emerging with the rise of regional production systems, movements for territorial autonomy and the rediscovery of old and the invention of new identities. States have responded by restructuring their systems of territorial government, often setting up an intermediate or regional level. There is no single model, but a range, from administrative deconcentration to federalization. Some states have regionalized in a uniform manner, while others have adopted asymmetrical solutions. In many cases, regions have gone beyond the nation-state, seeking to become actors in broader continental and transnational systems. The series covers the gamut of issues involved in this territorial restructuring, including the rise of regional production systems, political regionalism, questions of identity, and constitutional change. It will include the emergence of new systems of territorial regulation and collective action within civil society as well as the state. There is no a priori definition of what constitutes a region, since these span a range of spatial scales, from metropolitan regions to large federated states, and from administrative units to cultural regions and stateless nations. Disciplines covered include history, sociology, social and political geography, political science and law. Interdisciplinary approaches are particularly welcome. In addition to empirical and comparative studies, books focus on the theory of regionalism and federalism, including normative questions about democracy and accountability in complex systems of government. L’État-nation contemporain a subi une série de transformations qui remettent en cause son rôle traditionnel de cadre pour les systèmes sociaux, politiques et économiques. Des nouveaux espaces ont émergé avec la mise en place de systèmes de production régionaux, le développement des mouvements pour l’autonomie territoriale et la redécouverte des anciennes identités aussi bien que l’invention de nouvelles. Les États ont répondu à ces mutations par la restructuration de leurs systèmes de gouvernement territoriaux, le plus souvent par l’instauration d’un niveau intermédiaire ou régional. Il n’y a pas de modèle unique mais bien une gamme allant de la décentralisation administrative à la fédéralisation. Certains États se sont régionalisés de manière uniforme, tandis que d’autres ont adopté des solutions asymétriques. Dans plusieurs cas, les régions ont dépassé le cadre des États-nations, cherchant à devenir des acteurs au sein des systèmes continentaux et transnationaux. La collection s’intéresse à toute étude concernant cette restructuration territoriale, incluant le développement des systèmes de production régionaux, le régionalisme politique, les questions d’identité et les changements constitutionnels. Elle prend également en compte l’émergence de nouveaux systèmes de régulation territoriale et l’action collective au niveau de la société civile aussi bien que de l’État. Il n’y a pas de définition a priori de ce qui constitue une région, celle-ci pouvant embrasser un éventail de niveaux territoriaux, des régions métropolitaines aux grands États fédérés et des unités administratives aux régions culturelles et aux nations-sans-État. La collection comprend des études dans des disciplines variées telles que l’histoire, la sociologie, la géographie sociale et politique, la science politique et le droit. Les approches interdisciplinaires sont particulièrement bienvenues. Enfin, parallèlement aux études empiriques et comparatives, certains ouvrages s’intéressent à la théorie du régionalisme et du fédéralisme, incluant des questions normatives sur la démocratie et la responsabilité dans les systèmes complexes de gouvernement. The contemporary nation-state is undergoing a series of transformations which question its traditional role as a container of social, political and economic systems. New spaces are emerging with the rise of regional production systems, movements for territorial autonomy and the rediscovery of old and the invention of new identities. States have responded by restructuring their systems of territorial government, often setting up an intermediate or regional level. There is no single model, but a range, from administrative deconcentration to federalization. Some states have regionalized in a uniform manner, while others have adopted asymmetrical solutions. In many cases, regions have gone beyond the nation-state, seeking to become actors in broader continental and transnational systems. The series covers the gamut of issues involved in this territorial restructuring, including the rise of regional production systems, political regionalism, questions of identity, and constitutional change. It will include the emergence of new systems of territorial regulation and collective action within civil society as well as the state. There is no a priori definition of what constitutes a region, since these span a range of spatial scales, from metropolitan regions to large federated states, and from administrative units to cultural regions and stateless nations. Disciplines covered include history, sociology, social and political geography, political science and law. Interdisciplinary approaches are particularly welcome. In addition to empirical and comparative studies, books focus on the theory of regionalism and federalism, including normative questions about democracy and accountability in complex systems of government.

14 publications

Anthropocene / Anthropocène / Anthropozän

New geological period following the impact of human activities on the Earth system, the Anthropocene is at the same time a concept resulting from the Earth System Sciences and Geology, a political concept on the possible orientations of the human adventure, but also an ideological concept invested to generate social, economic and political changes. This collection integrates books (monographs or collective) from Earth System Sciences as well as from Environmental Humanities. In this collection the works raise the question of the future and its preparation in a period marked by uncertainty. The topics covered can be particularly varied, as, for example: stratigraphy of the Anthropocene, planetary boundaries, plastics, biogeochemical cycles... but also education, health, governance and democracy, the organization of contemporary societies and ecological changes, agriculture, urbanism, the stories of the Anthropocene, science fiction, or economic models. Nouvelle période géologique suite à l’impact des activités humaines sur le système Terre, l’Anthropocène est tout à la fois un concept issu des Sciences du système Terre et de la Géologie, un concept politique portant sur les orientations possibles de l’aventure humaine, mais aussi un concept idéologique investi pour générer des changements sociaux, économiques et politiques. Cette collection accueille des ouvrages (monographies ou collectifs) des Sciences du système Terre comme des Humanités environnementales. Les ouvrages de cette collection permettent de mettre au travail la question de l’avenir et de sa préparation dans une période marquée par l’incertitude. Les thématiques abordées peuvent être particulièrement variées, comme, à titre d’exemple　: la stratigraphie de l’Anthropocène, les limites planétaires, les plastiques, les flux bio-géo-chimiques… mais aussi l’éducation, la santé, la gouvernance et la démocratie, l’organisation des sociétés contemporaines et les mutations écologiques, l’agriculture, l’urbanisme, les récits de l’Anthropocène en construction, la science-fiction, ou encore les modèles économiques. Als eine neue geologische Zeit aufgrund der Auswirkungen menschlicher Einflüsse auf das Erdsystem, ist das Anthropozän gleichzeitig ein Konzept, das aus den Erdsystemwissenschaften und aus der Geologie entwickelt wurde. Es handelt sich dabei auch um ein politisches Konzept, das sich mit den möglichen Strebungen des menschlichen Abenteuers befasst. Schließlich ist es ein ideologisches Konstrukt das für soziale, wirtschaftliche und politische Veränderungen genutzt wird. Die vorliegende Sammlung umfasst Bücher (Monographien oder mit mehreren Autoren) der Erdsystemwissenschaften und der Umweltwissenschaften. Die in dieser Sammlung enthaltenen Bücher stellen die Frage nach der Zukunft der Menschen und wie sie sich darauf in einer Zeit der Ungewissheit vorbereiten können. Die verarbeiteten Themen können sehr unterschiedlich sein, z. B.: Stratigraphie des Anthropozän, planetarische Grenzen, Kunststoffe, bio-geo-chemische Zyklen… aber auch Bildung, Gesundheit, Politik und Demokratie, Organisation von gegenwärtigen Gesellschaften, ökologische Mutationen, Landwirtschaft, Urbanismus und auch, was über das sich bildende Anthropozän bereits geschrieben wurde, Science-Fiction, oder Wirtschaftsmodelle.

14 publications