Martin J. Smith

In an era of fiscal constraint, rising public demand, and fragmented governance, the UK's approach to public spending is under unprecedented strain. At the centre of this system sits HM Treasury, long regarded as the most powerful department in British government yet questioned for its ability to deliver effective financial control in an increasingly complex and fragmented policy landscape. This book offers a bold and timely reassessment of the Treasury's role in shaping the UK's public finances over the last thirty years. Drawing on over 150 interviews with senior officials, policymakers, and frontline practitioners, it reveals how the Treasury's traditional model of top-down control has failed to adapt to the realities of modern governance over the last three decades. Through detailed case studies of prisons, special educational needs, and homelessness, the authors expose the systemic consequences of short-termism, siloed budgeting, inadequate evaluation, centralised performance budgeting, and accountability deficits that undermine both fiscal sustainability and public service outcomes.

This book will examine at individuals who control, intimate, and manipulate in work, home, family, and social environments, using robust Psychological theory to comprehend and successfully tackle those who exhibit these behaviours. The focus of this book will be to look at general Personality theory together with more specific focus on the Dark Triad of personality traits and, from the Five Factor Model, the domain of Agreeableness vs Antagonism. This approach will build a greater understanding of a much broader form of controlling intimidating and manipulative personality type. The book will include both useable techniques as well as self-reflection exercises the reader can use or pass on to students, clients and service users. This book is based on a programme the author has been teaching for over twelve years to a range of audiences across a variety of roles and has also been highlighted frequently in the press over the past decade.

This book will examine at individuals who control, intimate, and manipulate in work, home, family, and social environments, using robust Psychological theory to comprehend and successfully tackle those who exhibit these behaviours. The focus of this book will be to look at general Personality theory together with more specific focus on the Dark Triad of personality traits and, from the Five Factor Model, the domain of Agreeableness vs Antagonism. This approach will build a greater understanding of a much broader form of controlling intimidating and manipulative personality type. The book will include both useable techniques as well as self-reflection exercises the reader can use or pass on to students, clients and service users. This book is based on a programme the author has been teaching for over twelve years to a range of audiences across a variety of roles and has also been highlighted frequently in the press over the past decade.

Die Britannic - ein Name, der in den Schatten ihrer ber hmten Schwester Titanic verblasste, und dennoch eine Geschichte, die es wert ist, erz hlt zu werden. Als das letzte und gr te Schiff der Olympic-Klasse sollte die Britannic urspr nglich als Luxusdampfer ber den Atlantik kreuzen und den Passagieren h chsten Komfort und Eleganz bieten. Doch ihr Schicksal nahm eine dramatische Wendung: Mit dem Beginn des Ersten Weltkriegs wurde sie kurzerhand zu einem Hospitalschiff umfunktioniert, ausgestattet mit modernster medizinischer Technik und bereit, verwundete Soldaten in Sicherheit zu bringen. Dieses Buch enth llt die faszinierende und wenig bekannte Geschichte der Britannic - von der Vision eines prachtvollen Luxusliners bis hin zu ihrer tragischen letzten Fahrt. Autor Martin J. Smith nimmt Sie mit auf eine Entdeckungsreise durch die H hen und Tiefen eines Schiffs, das trotz seiner kurzen Dienstzeit zur Legende wurde. Erfahren Sie, wie die Lehren aus der Titanic-Katastrophe die Britannic sicherer machen sollten und warum sie letztendlich doch dem Meer zum Opfer fiel. Eine packende Reise in die Vergangenheit, die den Leser hinter die Kulissen eines der beeindruckendsten Schiffe der Geschichte blicken l sst und die stille Heldin der Meere ins verdiente Rampenlicht r ckt.

Die Britannic - ein Name, der in den Schatten ihrer ber hmten Schwester Titanic verblasste, und dennoch eine Geschichte, die es wert ist, erz hlt zu werden. Als das letzte und gr te Schiff der Olympic-Klasse sollte die Britannic urspr nglich als Luxusdampfer ber den Atlantik kreuzen und den Passagieren h chsten Komfort und Eleganz bieten. Doch ihr Schicksal nahm eine dramatische Wendung: Mit dem Beginn des Ersten Weltkriegs wurde sie kurzerhand zu einem Hospitalschiff umfunktioniert, ausgestattet mit modernster medizinischer Technik und bereit, verwundete Soldaten in Sicherheit zu bringen. Dieses Buch enth llt die faszinierende und wenig bekannte Geschichte der Britannic - von der Vision eines prachtvollen Luxusliners bis hin zu ihrer tragischen letzten Fahrt. Autor Martin J. Smith nimmt Sie mit auf eine Entdeckungsreise durch die H hen und Tiefen eines Schiffs, das trotz seiner kurzen Dienstzeit zur Legende wurde. Erfahren Sie, wie die Lehren aus der Titanic-Katastrophe die Britannic sicherer machen sollten und warum sie letztendlich doch dem Meer zum Opfer fiel. Eine packende Reise in die Vergangenheit, die den Leser hinter die Kulissen eines der beeindruckendsten Schiffe der Geschichte blicken l sst und die stille Heldin der Meere ins verdiente Rampenlicht r ckt.

Discover the Weird, Weird West For more than thirty years, journalist and author Martin J. Smith traveled the American West, chasing offbeat stories that were often bizarre, always compelling, and at times profound. His journey through that oft-idealized and misunderstood landscape has made him a witness to some of the West’s most interesting places, people, and events, from his Valentine’s Day at Nevada’s Mustang Ranch brothel to the deathbed of a man who spent three decades building two 150-ton concrete dinosaurs in the desert. This collection of essays, often told with the wisdom and perspective of a writer looking back, chronicles in vivid detail the heroes, heels, and cultural spasms of an endlessly fascinating frontier.

"A page-turner with a kicker at the end—you can’t ask for anything better. Intricately plotted and full of character, this one is a great ride that burns with the intensity of a California wildfire."—Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestseller The dry season has hit the Inland Empire of California, depleting the ponds and revealing the muddy grave of Paul Dwyer. From his mansion on the hill, Dwyer lorded over Los Colmas, a small town that he aspired to make big by building mansions for wealthy LA commuters. Some viewed him as a savior, providing construction jobs for locals. Others believed he was ruining their beautiful, close-knit town. But who was angry enough to murder him? Local cop Ron Starke is overwhelmed by the list of suspects and plagued by a difficult captain who is demanding results. Starke investigates Paul Dwyer's dirty money and handshake deals gone wrong, but the name at the top of the suspect list is the most intriguing, and chilling. The developer wasn't the only one with secrets; his widow Shelby has kept her own for decades, none more harrowing than the horrific abuse she and her daughter endured at the hands of Dwyer. And none more volatile than what she knows but must hide about Paul's murder. As the season’s wildfires intensify to historic levels and surge towards Los Colmas, Starke must discover who killed Dwyer before all the evidence burnsand the whole town is erased. "Combustion is exactly what I love in a mystery—fast as a bullet and bristling with suspense. Part Hitchcock, part 'Law and Order,' all terrific."—T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times bestselling author of The Room of White Fire

In this important new text, Martin Smith reassesses traditional debates about power and how they understand the nature and impact of the state. He develops an analysis of the new forms of state power that have developed in response to the perceived challenges of globalization and governance.

In this important new text, Martin Smith reassesses traditional debates about power and how they understand the nature and impact of the state. He develops an analysis of the new forms of state power that have developed in response to the perceived challenges of globalization and governance.

This textbook analyses the changing nature of public policy over 30 years, looking at the impact of governance and offering a theoretically and critically informed account of the changing nature of the state. It also draws on interviews conducted with Conservative and Labour ministers, civil servants and pressure group representatives.

The study of central government has been dominated by the recurring questions of Prime Ministerial versus Cabinet government and civil service versus ministerial power. Using the idea of 'power dependence' this book challenges these simplicities to provide a definitive assessment of - and introduction to - power and policy at the core of British political life. It undermines traditional approaches by demonstrating that power in the core executive is complex, and flows between actors and institutions. The Prime Minister can only exercise power with the support of the Cabinet, and ministers and officials are often partners rather than competitors.