Bücher der Reihe Routledge Research in Comparative Politics

This edited volume offers a critical discussion of the trade-offs between transparency and secrecy in the actual political practice of democratic states in Europe. As such, it answers to a growing need to systematically analyse the problem of secrecy in governance in this political and geographical context.

Examines the ways in which controversies and political, legal, and social struggles for gender equality in Asia and Europe, raise conceptual questions and challenge our thinking on political theories of equality, citizenship and human rights.

Examines the role of civil society organizations in several advanced European democracies: Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. This book focuses on how voluntary organizations contribute to civic and democratic health and assesses the impact of different organizational types on social capital.

Examines the impact of the EU on the quality of democracy in eight post-communist countries: Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Ukraine and Armenia. Considering both the political and legal aspects, this title focuses on inter-institutional accountability.

Presents a comparative assessment of social pacts between governments, labor unions and employer organizations in Western Europe. This title argues that governments' choice of social pacts or legislation is less influenced by economic problems, but is strongly influenced by electoral competition.

Examines why regional identities are stronger in some regions than in others, and discusses the underlying causes of the mobilization of sub-state regions in Western Europe.

Brings together research from the Global North and the Global South to illuminate how contemporary motherhood is changed by the processes of globalization.

Social structure may historically have been of primary importance in accounting for the attitudes and behavior of many citizens, but the changes in social structure have diminished the role played by class and religious affiliation. This book explores the role played by the personalisation of leadership.