The politics of food is changing fast. In rich countries, obesity is now a more serious problem than hunger. Consumers once satisfied with cheap and convenient food now want food that is also safe, nutritious, fresh, and grown by local farmers using fewer chemicals.

Heavily subsidized and underregulated commercial farmers are facing stronger push back from environmentalists and consumer activists, and food companies are under the microscope. Meanwhile, agriculturalsuccess in Asia has spurred ...

The European Union (EU) stands out as a fascinatingly unique political organisation. On the one hand, it has shown the potential for developing deep and wide-ranging cooperation between member states, going far beyond that found anywhere else in the world. On the other, it is currently in the throes of a phase of profound uncertainty about its viability and future.

Showing how and why the EU has developed from 1950 to the present day, this Very Short Introduction covers a range of topics, inc...

The definitive introduction to security studies, focusing on key theoretical approaches and the critical issues shaping today's global security landscape. Contemporary Security Studies offers a uniquely engaging introduction to Security Studies, addressing key theories and contemporary issues in the field. A team of expert scholars strikes a careful balance between depth and clarity, making it an essential companion for students exploring the modern security agenda.

Key features:· Offers bro...

Who should hold political power?Are there any justified limits to people's liberty?What is democracy? Is it really that attractive? An Introduction to Political Philosophy is the beginner's ideal introduction to the field, combining clarity and a conversational style with a thought-provoking account of the central questions in political philosophy. Wolff explores a series of enduring and timeless questions, spanning centuries and millennia to consider a diverse range of thinkers and their res...

International organizations are increasingly important to global politics, law, and culture. Now in its fifth edition, this leading textbook provides the definitive introduction to modern international organizations by examining a dozen prominent global institutions. With a mix of legal, empirical, and theoretical approaches, the author examines timely cases where IOs are in the headlines today including on migration, Brexit, trade wars, and border disputes.

This new edition is fully revised ...

From agriculture to security, the policies of the European Union have wide-reaching consequences for the EU's member states and citizens, and for the wider world. Policy-Making in the European Union begins with an overview of EU policy-making as a whole, defining the processes and institutions involved, and introducing the analytical approaches that are necessary for understanding them. A wide range of policy areas are then explored in detail, including thesingle market, environmental policy,...

Comparative European Politics: Distinct Democracies, Common Challenges provides a complete guide to European politics through a comparative lens. The authors explore not only the 27 European Union member states, but also other European systems such as the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, to help readers understand the patterns that have shaped modern Europe. Organised thematically, the book is structured in three parts, beginning with elections and representati...

As international organizations become ever more prominent in global politics it is increasingly urgent to understand their power, their limits, and their effects. Now in its fourth edition, this leading textbook provides the definitive introduction to modern international organizations, from the legal charters of their beginnings, to the issues they engage with in the contemporary world. In his analysis of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the International Criminal Court and ...

Karl Marx called religion "the opium of the masses" because of the illusory relief it offered from the cold realities of capitalism. Today, the hard reality that we must face is that we have fundamentally and irrevocably damaged life on Earth, and while distracting opiates are everywhere, it is clear that the root cause is none other than capitalism itself.

Building upon a completely unexplored facet of Marx's thought that has been lying dormant for more than a century, Japanese sta...

'This lucid guide is essential reading' GuardianFrom Donald Trump to Recep Erdogan, populists are on the rise across the globe. But what exactly is populism? Should everyone who criticizes Wall Street or Washington be called a populist? What precisely is the difference between right-wing and left-wing populism? Does populism bring government closer to the people or is it a threat to democracy? Who are "the people" anyway and who can speak in their name? These questions have never been more pr...