Scott Williamson

Why are some autocrats more effective than others at retaining popular support even when their governments perform poorly? To develop insights into popular politics and governance across authoritarian regimes, this book stresses the importance of understanding autocratic blame games. Scott Williamson argues that how autocrats share power affects their ability to shift blame, so that they are less vulnerable to the public's grievances when they delegate decision-making powers to other political elites. He shows that this benefit of power-sharing influences when autocrats limit their control over decision-making, how much they repress, and whether their regimes provide accountability. He also argues that ruling monarchs are particularly well positioned among autocrats to protect their reputations by sharing power, which contributes to their surprising durability in the modern world. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in Jordan and cross-national analysis of autocracies, the book illustrates the important role of blame in the politics of authoritarian regimes.

Why are some autocrats more effective than others at retaining popular support even when their governments perform poorly? To develop insights into popular politics and governance across authoritarian regimes, this book stresses the importance of understanding autocratic blame games. Scott Williamson argues that how autocrats share power affects their ability to shift blame, so that they are less vulnerable to the public's grievances when they delegate decision-making powers to other political elites. He shows that this benefit of power-sharing influences when autocrats limit their control over decision-making, how much they repress, and whether their regimes provide accountability. He also argues that ruling monarchs are particularly well positioned among autocrats to protect their reputations by sharing power, which contributes to their surprising durability in the modern world. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in Jordan and cross-national analysis of autocracies, the book illustrates the important role of blame in the politics of authoritarian regimes.

Ghosts from Edinburgh's past haunt supernatural detective Hugh... Hugh would like nothing better than to be left alone, so he can drink his way through retirement and forget his own history. But the dead have problems he needs to solve...or the living will suffer the consequences. Can Hugh keep his temper, foul mouth and drinking in check long enough to unravel the puzzle of each ghost before they harm the living? The dead also want to help. Fanny Archibald, born in 1850 and brutally murdered in 1865, is back to provide her unwanted guidance to Hugh. As if dealing with the dead wasn't bad enough, now Hugh had the opinions of a 15-year-old to endure... Can Hugh and Fanny solve the riddle of each ghost and transfer the lost souls back across the veil to the land of the dead? Readers will love these five twisted ghost tales set in the historic city of Edinburgh. Get it now, if you dare...

My Dad says he's not a real hero. And I would tend to agree ... My Dad, My Hero, is a fun tale that explores a son's bond with his Dad and how his unlucky Dad is a hero despite sneaky tricks played by the little green monster under the bed. Told from the son's point of view, it has warm likeable characters and a lovely sense of humour that will delight young and old just before bedtime or anytime This book is an excellent present for Father's Day or can just be read to celebrate the heroes we call Dad and will suit ages 2-6.