David McKay

A fierce indictment of colonialism, Max Havelaar is a masterpiece of Dutch literature based on the author's own experience as an adminstrator in the Dutch East Indies in the 1850s. The Dutch East Indies, January 1856. The new assistant resident, Max Havelaar, arrives in the remote regency of Lebak, preceded by his reputation as a quixotic idealist. Some think him a fool, others a genius, but "one thing is certain: he was an unusual man, and worthy of observation." As Havelaar crusades against corruption, he makes a few unsettling observations of his own. Why don't the financial statements add up? Did the previous assistant resident really die a natural death? And why are his superiors obstructing his efforts to learn the truth? A few years later in Amsterdam, the stolid Dutch coffee broker Batavus Drystubble obtains Havelaar's papers from the threadbare Shawlman, who wanders the streets in search of work. Drystubble pores over the documents in the hopes of lucrative revelations about the coffee trade. But his spirited young son Frits and romanticsouled German assistant Ernest Stern discover something much more astonishing: a scandal that strikes at the heart of the whole Dutch colonial enterprise... Based on the author's true experiences as an administrator in Java, Max Havelaar is a fiery indictment of colonial misrule and one of the masterpieces of Dutch literature. This is the first new English translation of Multatuli's furious and funny masterpiece in more than fifty years.

An extraordinary love story and a captivating novel about the power of memory and imagination. Flanders 1922. After serving as a soldier in the Great War, Noon Merckem has lost his memory and lives in a psychiatric asylum. Countless women, responding to a newspaper ad, visit him there in the hope of finding their spouse who vanished in battle. One day a woman, Julienne, appears and recognizes Noon as her husband, the photographer Amand Coppens, and takes him home against medical advice. But their miraculous reunion doesn't turn out the way that Julienne wants her envious friends to believe. Only gradually do the two grow close, and Amand's biography is pieced together on the basis of Julienne's stories about him. But how can he be certain that she's telling the truth? In The Remembered Soldier, Anjet Daanje immerses us in the psyche of a war-traumatized man who has lost his identity. When Amand comes to doubt Julienne's word, the reader is caught up in a riveting spiral of confusion that only the greatest of literature can achieve.

Provides an up-to-date introduction and analysis of the US political scene written from a comparative perspective, newly revised and updated throughout American Politics and Society in an accessible introduction to the main institutions of the US federal government, discussing the most recent developments in broader economic, social, and comparative contexts. Now in its tenth edition, this popular textbook applies an international perspective to the relevance of historical trends, research findings in political science, and present-day governmental procedures, structures, and debates. Acclaimed author David McKay guides students through the complexities of the American political system while encouraging them to evaluate the widening ideological divide that now defines American political life and public discourse. Since the publication of the previous edition, America has undergone some of the most dramatic events in its history—from the COVID-19 pandemic, to the widespread protests against racial and economic injustice, to the aggressive populist rhetoric of Donald Trump, to the bitterly contested 2020 presidential election that culminated in the violent assault on the US Capitol. In this edition, the author addresses the escalating ideological conflict, the rise of extremism in the Republican Party, arguments over the proper role of government, the public’s expectations of politicians and political processes, and more. Offering valuable insights into both the social-political past and present of America, this classic textbook: Examines the policy process in such areas as civil rights, social policy, economic policy, the environment, and foreign policyEvaluates the performance of US government over the last decade and audits the broader American political systemEncourages students to critically assess the US government in areas of democratic responsiveness and public accountabilityCompares international social-political perspectives to those that are uniquely AmericanDiscusses of the role of beliefs and values in American politics and how they influence broader society and economy Thanks to its clear and engaging narrative and its wealth of pedagogical features, American Politics and Society, Tenth Edition remains the ideal introductory textbook for courses exploring the institutions and processes of the US government and the most important events in the current American social and political landscape.

The reality of being made in the image of God, but of being marred by sin, is the chief characteristic of the human race. This separation from our Creator, and ultimate union with him through the death of his Son affects all aspects of our lives. The issue of identity and the value of human life have come to the fore in recent years and David McKay’s short book reminds us of who God has created us to be.

Essentials of American Politics is an undergraduate text with a novel analytical and comparative focus. It takes as a central theme the increasing tension in American politics between a general philosophy of limited government and particular public demands for more and better government programs and services. While this has always been a feature of the American polity, recent events have brought it into sharp focus. Both a Republican Congress and Democratic president extol the virtues of less government but continue to grapple with demands for improved education, health care, transportation and almost every other area of social and economic life. All praise the virtues of lower taxation and at the same time promise improvements in the quality of public services. A similar tension applies in the courts, in state politics and indeed throughout the system. Recent successes such as a balanced budget have been achieved in part because the limited government philosophy has been on the ascendant and has won support from all shades of political opinion. But conflicts over the distributional questions of who gets what has hardly subsided. In few other democracies is this tension as well defined as in the United States and Essentials reminds readers of this fact through comparison with democratic processes in other countries, and in particular with European countries. Essentials weaves this theme into a discussion of American national politics. Up to date and well organized chapters are devoted to beliefs and values, the Constitution, federalism, Congress, presidency, the federal bureaucracy, interest groups and the courts. Policy chapters include economic, social and foreign affairs. In all chapters the analytical approach explains to students some of the main controversies in American political science. At all times Essentials seeks to impart basic information on American politics in an analytical but stimulating manner. Features:Concise format of 17 chapters that cover instit

The New British Politics is one of the most comprehensive and successful introductions to British politics ever published. Now available in a fully revised and updated fourth edition, this clear, lively and authoritative text has an emphasis on law and order and the historical context of British politics. Written by internationally-known specialists, the book combines incisive and original analysis with direct presentation.

Presidential leadership in America can and does make a great deal of difference to what is debated and eventually legislated. At the same time presidents are obviously constrained by what is always a complex and difficult political environment. In this study Dr McKay examines the interaction between presidential policy preferences and the political environment, concentrating on welfare and urban policy and intergovernmental relations under Johnson, Nixon, Carter and Reagan. McKay traces the origins of domestic initiatives, assesses the intellectual coherence of policies and examines the ways in which the four presidents adapted their strategies according to their legislative fortunes and the experience of implementing policies. Throughout the work, McKay measures the independent influence of the White House on policy and draws conclusions for theories of American political development, in particular for the opportunities and constraints provided by the fragmentation of the New Deal political regime.

The New British Politics is one of the most comprehensive and successful introductions to British politics ever published. Now available in a fully revised and updated fourth edition, this clear, lively and authoritative text has an emphasis on law and order and the historical context of British politics. Written by internationally-known specialists, the book combines incisive and original analysis with direct presentation.

Few dispute that one of the most pressing issues for the future of Europe is the question of constitutional design. To what extent will unanimity voting in the Council of Ministers be replaced by qualified majority voting and how should these votes be distributed by country? Should the European Parliament assume a meaningful policy making role? How should the Commission be reformed? Generally this debate uses the existing and past experience of the European Union as a basis for future reform. Comparisons with other political systems, and in particular with those systems that devolve power to states, provinces and regions are rarely attempted. Yet with EMU in place and further deepening of EU responsibilities scheduled, much can be learnt from the experience of other systems and especially established federations. Designing Europe shows how in five cases - the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and Switzerland - the rules established in founding constitutions greatly influenced the ways in which federal-state relations evolved. In some cases, for example Canada, these rules proved inappropriate for the balance of provincial and central power, while in others, such as Switzerland, more favourable institutional rules prevailed. In all cases political parties have played a major role in brokering this balance of central and regional power. And in all cases intergovernmental fiscal relations have been central to the debate. Designing Europe concludes that because, like Switzerland, the EU is both highly decentralised and heterogeneous, super-majoritarian decision rules should apply to EU decision making. In addition further checks on central power should be provided through a carefully coded constitution which could only be amended via popular approval in member states.

Few dispute that one of the most pressing issues for the future of the Europe is the question of constitutional design. To what extent will unanimity voting in the Council of Ministers replaced by qualified majority voting and how should these votes be distributed by country? Should the European Parliament assume a meaningful policy making role? How should the Commission be reformed? Generally this debate uses the existing and past experience of the European Union as a basis for future reform. Comparisons with other political systems and in particular with those systems that devolve power to states, provinces and regions are rarely attempted. Yet with EMU in place and further deepening of EU responsibilities scheduled, much can be learnt from the experience of other systems and especially established federations. Designing Europe shows how in five cases - the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and Switzerland - the rules established in founding constitutions greatly influenced the ways in which federal-state relations evolved. In some cases, for example Canada, these rules proved inappropriate for the balance of provincial and central power, while in others, such as Switzerland, more favourable institutional rules prevailed. In all cases political parties have played a major role in brokering this balance of central and regional power. And in all cases intergovernmental fiscal relations have been central to the debate. Designing Europe concludes that because, like Switzerland, the EU is both highly decentralised and heterogeneous, super-majoritarian decision rules should apply to EU decision making. In addition further checks on central power should be provided through a carefully coded constitution amendments to which could only be amended via popular approval in member states.

Essentials of American Politics is an undergraduate text with a novel analytical and comparative focus. It takes as a central theme the increasing tension in American politics between a general philosophy of limited government and particular public demands for more and better government programs and services. While this has always been a feature of the American polity, recent events have brought it into sharp focus. Both a Republican Congress and Democratic president extol the virtues of less government but continue to grapple with demands for improved education, health care, transportation and almost every other area of social and economic life. All praise the virtues of lower taxation and at the same time promise improvements in the quality of public services. A similar tension applies in the courts, in state politics and indeed throughout the system. Recent successes such as a balanced budget have been achieved in part because the limited government philosophy has been on the ascendant and has won support from all shades of political opinion. But conflicts over the distributional questions of who gets what has hardly subsided. In few other democracies is this tension as well defined as in the United States and Essentials reminds readers of this fact through comparison with democratic processes in other countries, and in particular with European countries. Essentials weaves this theme into a discussion of American national politics. Up to date and well organized chapters are devoted to beliefs and values, the Constitution, federalism, Congress, presidency, the federal bureaucracy, interest groups and the courts. Policy chapters include economic, social and foreign affairs. In all chapters the analytical approach explains to students some of the main controversies in American political science. At all times Essentials seeks to impart basic information on American politics in an analytical but stimulating manner. Features:Concise format of 17 chapters that cover institutions, behavior and policy arenas. Theme of American's general philosophy of limited government versus our particular demands for expanded government programs and services. Rich, comparative examples (Britain, Canada, and Mexico versus U. S.) throughout the book's narrative.

Federalism and European Union examines the decision to adopt EMU as a federal bargain by the European Union as designed to provide the countries of Europe with a bulwark against the volatility of the international economy. Although the precise motives of the participants varied from country to country, all were agreed that only federal like political and economic arrangements would provide a guarantee of economic and political stability. The author provides a coherent theoretical framework for understanding the decisions taken at Maastricht and later. By making comparisons with other federations, the book also examines the political and economic conditions under which federations succeed or fail. It concludes that EMU will only be politically sustainable if novel ways are found to limit centrally imposed fiscal and spending policies.

This fully revised and updated edition of an established reference book, provides in one volume the most comprehensive and detailed statistical guide available to the government and politics of the twenty-four countries in the OECD. There is no lack of statistical data about the OECD countries (the nineteen countries of Western Europe together with Cabada, the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Sealand); but much of the material is hard to track down and little is available in comparative form. The editors of the present volume have sifted through many hundreds of sources to select the essential facts and figures on population, social structure, employment, the economy, public finance, government structures, and political parties from 1950 to the present day. In addition they provide social and economic background for each of the countries covered to enable the data to be put in context. A short final section lists sources of further information. The resulting combination is both invaluable and fascinating, whether it is used casually to check up a fact or two, or systematically to make detailed comparisons between the most advanced political systems of the Western world.

The decision of Maastricht to create a political union and in particular to move towards a single currency constitutes something of an intellectual puzzle. Why did political leaders agree to cede the most important economic function of the modern state to a supernational authority? And why was the decision taken in 1991 rather than 1981 or 1961? This book attempts to answer these questions by adapting William Rikers's federalism theory to the European case. Part I of the book makes the claim that by the late 1980s political elites in all the EU member states had become convinced that inflation must be controlled at all costs and that the only way of ensuring this was the adoption of a single currency policy policed by an independant European bank. Alternative policies based on economic nationalism were discredited and no major political party in any of the EU states dissented from the single currency solution. The commitment to the resulting federal bargain became evident during the currency crisis of 1992 and 1993 when governments of both left and right pursued deflationary policies in the midst of a recession in order to retain their credibility as potential candidates for monetary union. Part II considers the viability of union by examining the relationship between fiscal centralization and political centralization in Europe and in other federations. It is argued that given the variations among member states, European union can only work with a relatively strong federal government accountable via Europe-wide political parties operating in a powerful European Parliament. The book concludes that European political union is not tenable in the absence of these fundamental changes.

First published in 1993. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.