State Responsiveness and State Activism (1989) provides a unique comparative account of some of the most fundamental social changes that have taken place in the western world and the role played in these changes by the state. It evaluates which models – economic, modernization, political mobilization, class conflict – best predict the growth in social welfare and in educational expenditures; determines how much the political and administrative centralization of the state, centrali...

We think of the kibbutz as a place for communal living and working. Members work, reside, and eat together, and share income “from each according to ability, to each according to need.” But in the late 1980s the kibbutzim decided that they needed to change. Reforms—moderate at first—were put in place. Members could work outside of the organization, but wages went to the collective. Apartments could be expanded, but housing remained kibbutz-owned. In 1995, change accelerated. Kibbutzim bega...

Tariq Ramadan is very much a public figure, named one of Time magazine's most important innovators of the twenty-first century. He is among the leading Islamic thinkers in the West, with a large following around the world. But he has also been a lightning rod for controversy. Indeed, in 2004, Ramadan was prevented from entering the U.S. by the Bush administration and despite two appeals, supported by organizations like the American Academy of Religion and the ACLU, he is still barred from ...

Counterterrorism and Identities presents a detailed analysis of Canadian public opinion on questions of national security, terrorism, and counterterrorism. Where we live, our religious identification, our age, gender, and values all have an impact on our views on these issues, as do events such as 9/11 and more recent terrorist incidents in Canada and abroad. With the safety of the public and the fight against terrorism increasingly regarded as a responsibility shared between government an...

A new group of Americans is challenging the reign of the Religious RightToday, nearly one in five Americans are nonbelievers - a rapidly growing group at a time when traditional Christian churches are dwindling in numbers - and they are flexing their muscles like never before. Yet we still see almost none of them openly serving in elected office, while Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and many others continue to loudly proclaim the myth of America as a Christian...

We all know we should give to charity, but who really does? In his controversial study of America's giving habits, Arthur C. Brooks shatters stereotypes about charity in America-including the myth that the political Left is more compassionate than the Right. Brooks, a preeminent public policy expert, spent years researching giving trends in America, and even he was surprised by what he found. In Who Really Cares, he identifies the forces behind American charity: strong families, c...

Word Guild 2008 Writing Award (Culture)We want to have it all: financial strength, secure homes, clean air and water for our children. With the latest technological advances available, we deserve to have every dilemma resolved. Isn't that the way it's supposed to work? Hope in Troubled Times dares to say "no."Poverty, terrorism, and overtaxed land are planetary problems that make even believers despair. But the authors point to Christ as the source...

The conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians is considered intractable by many, and is frequently characterised by the violence between the two sides. In attempts at peace, the starting point for negotiations is a cessation of violence; beneath this, however, lies a plethora of other issues to be addressed.This unique text brings together Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints on a number of key issues and topics, making clear the points of agreement as well as the views that...

Terrorism is the most clear and present danger we confront today, yet no phenomenon is more poorly understood by policymakers, the media, and the general public. The Faces of Terrorism is the first serious interdisciplinary examination of terrorism in all its facets. What gives rise to it, who are its proponents and how do they think, and how--and why--does it work?Neil Smelser begins by tackling the fundamental problem of defining what exactly terrorism is. He shows why a...

Leading international voices argue for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.In July 2011, Israel passed legislation outlawing the public support of boycott activities against the state, corporations, and settlements, adding a crackdown on free speech to its continuing blockade of Gaza and the expansion of illegal settlements. Nonetheless, the campaign for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) continues to grow in strength within Israel and Palestine, as well as in Eur...

The challenge of Islam to America’s Christian identity and the stark differences between Muslim and Western worldviews are exposed in this penetrating study by Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, a renowned expert on Islam. By exposing the plans of certain Muslim groups to Islamise the United States, he invites you to consider how deep their influence runs in contemporary American society. As Muslims become increasingly assertive and Islamism grows, the call is for Christian and secular leaders to respo...

This is the first of its kind in its topical coverage of the developments and prospects of Islamic finance education at Western higher education. Intended to establish itself as a unique reference for academics and researchers this book gives an insight into ethics and values in curricula development at business schools and in finance departments.