This major new text on the theory and practice of public management moves away from descriptive accounts of its evolution to provide a systematic treatment of the key paradigms of public management today. It examines their competing outlooks, values, tools and assumptions and - using a wide range of examples from different areas of management around the world - their implications for practice. The text sets out three contrasting 'logics' for management - performance, professionalism and polit...

This is a collection of short stories which bring to life the sounds and smells of Mexico - with breathtaking range and authority, whose characters give life to the varied life on both sides of the Mexican border. From a young girl revealing secrets only an eleven-year-old can know, to a witch woman circling above the village on a pre-dawn flight, the women in these stories offer tales of pure discovery, filled with moments of infinite and intimate wisdom.

Anime: A Critical Introduction maps the genres that have thrived within Japanese animation culture, and shows how a wide range of commentators have made sense of anime through discussions of its generic landscape. From the battling robots that define the mecha genre through to Studio Ghibli’s dominant genre-brand of plucky shojo (young girl) characters, this book charts the rise of anime as a globally significant category of animation. It further thinks through the differences between anime...

The 9th iteration of this go-to textbook on contemporary Russian politics offers comprehensive and critical discussion of the country's most recent developments, providing substantive coverage of the key areas in domestic and foreign Russian politics. Ranging from established topics such as executive leadership, parties and elections, to newer issues of national identity, protest, and Russia and Greater Eurasia, it reflects the changing nature of Russian politics in a globalising world define...

The new fifth edition of this leading textbook provides a clear and comprehensive account of governance and politics in the Netherlands. The book has been revised throughout to provide full coverage of recent developments and events, including the latest proposals for constitutional reform. The Netherlands has often been characterized as a place of political calm, with a culture of cooperation and compromise in dealing with key political issues.

Now, at a time when climate change and immigrat...

A practical and accessible guide and introduction to the field of Western Esotericism

Covering all the fundamental topics in hydraulics and hydrology, this textbook is an accessible, thorough and trusted introduction to the subject. The text builds confidence by encouraging readers to work through examples, try simple experiments and continually test their own understanding as the book progresses. This hands-on approach aims to show students just how interesting hydraulics and hydrology is, as well as providing an invaluable reference resource for practising engineers.

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The third edition of this core textbook, edited and contributed to by recognised international authorities on the subject, outlines the critical contextual and theoretical issues of business and management in Asia and offers a fresh, topical analysis of management in the major Asian nations. Featuring an accessible two-part structure and updated with the latest research, the book will enable students to assess Asian management systems and the strategies adopted by corporations and governments...

In the 3rd edition of the leading introductory textbook to planning theory, Allmendinger provides a wide-ranging and up-to-date analysis of planning theories, how these relate to planning practice, and their significance. Moving away from a linear, chronological model of progress over time from one paradigm to another, Allmendinger explains how and why different theories have gained dominance in particular places at particular times, giving the reader a holistic view of the field of scholarsh...

Bestselling author Stella Cottrell taps into her tried and tested formula for learning and brings students the essential guide to producing top-quality dissertations and project reports. The book breaks down this process into manageable chunks and covers everything from preparation and planning through to conducting research and writing up the finished article. Packed with dozens of hands-on activities and quotes from real students, this book demystifies dissertations and project reports and ...