The collapse of the USSR transformed the world from a bipolar rivalry into a unipolar order dominated by the USA. Today, the rise of China and shifting global dynamics have sparked debates about unipolarity, bipolarity, and multipolarity. As the USA retreats as the principal superpower, China's dramatic ascent and the growing influence of nations like Russia, India, and the BRICS coalition signal the emergence of a complex multipolar world.

This book examines the decline of the unipolar world and the outdated notion of a bipolar world, emphasizing the increasing role of the BRICS bloc of nations. Following an offensive realism approach, it explores the Global South's challenge to Western dominance, analyzing development within the context of social and environmental justice. Focusing on solidarity and alternative development models, this book discusses a new world order led by non-Western powers, reshaping global economic, political, and social landscapes.

This Open Access book argues for a more prominent position on political and policy agendas for European population ageing. In the coming two decades, ageing populations will put significant pressure on pension systems, budgets, and economies in the European Union. Increasingly close integration between EU member states through political ties, trade and a common currency, means ageing in one country will have a direct impact on other member states. The book sketches four potential risks with cross-border implications: economic stagnation within the EU, high national debts and divergence, upward pressure on inflation, and socio-political tension within and between member states. In the report European Aging in Focus. Dealing with Pension and Budgetary Risks, the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) outlines three policy directions to anticipate and mitigate these risks: anticipate an ageing European Union and prepare society for it; steer at the EU level towards ageing-resilient socio-economic and pension policies; and protect at the national level against potential negative consequences of European ageing. While this book has a specific focus on the position of the Netherlands within an ageing Europe, it is of interest to policy makers and researchers across Europe interested in population ageing, associated pension and budgetary risks, and particularly in potential effects of these risks across national borders.

This open access book offers the first thorough analysis of the role of civil defense in NATO security discourse and development over the years, pinpointing critical junctures and historical events. Its novel contribution is the analysis of NATO's adoption and implementation of resilience as policy, a strategic concept, and later as a new body, the resilience committee. It explores how resilience shapes the role of civil defense and becomes a natural part of national defense and international security, and provides new insights into the knowledge of this contested concept and its adaptability once it enters a security discourse.

In terms of policy implications, one of the book's key contributions is its careful examination of the intricate roles ascribed by civil administration, civil society, market actors, and the broader populace. By explicitly addressing the social and political dynamics that have shaped NATO both historically and in the present day, it aims to ignite vital conversations around the implications of military alliances on democracy, accountability, and their influence over the internal political affairs of member states. This sheds light on the interconnectedness of these elements and encourages readers to critically reflect on the power structures at play and their far-reaching effects.

From Risk to Resilience challenges how decisions are made in an era defined not only by climate disruption, but by systemic uncertainty. Traditional risk models rely on historical data and stable assumptions. Yet across infrastructure, financial markets, and national systems, these foundations are breaking down, creating a widening gap between modeled risk and real-world uncertainty.

Sharron L. McPherson introduces The Resilience Method (TM), a decision-grade framework that enables governments, investors, and infrastructure leaders to assess whether systems, assets, and communities will remain viable over time. Moving beyond risk mitigation, she reframes resilience as a strategic discipline for operating under uncertainty.Drawing on three decades of experience across finance, law, and policy, and fieldwork across five continents, she connects complex risk signals to real-world decisions. This is a practical framework for navigating volatility, allocating capital with greater confidence, and building systems that endure.

Russia's devastating invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is a manifestation of a wider phenomenon: Russia's new, post-Soviet imperialism. This book provides a theoretically informed, critical account of Russian imperialism that is attentive to the interplay between economy and ideology, coercion and hegemony, structure and agency. While economic developments go a long way toward explaining the reemergence of Russia's imperialist impulses in the twenty-first century, a purely economic logic cannot account for the dramatic shift in Russian imperialism beginning with the annexation of Crimea and the instigation of a separatist insurgency in the Donbas. Nor can objective geopolitical developments, such as US and NATO military deployments, provide an adequate explanation for this shift. Instead, this book shows how the Kremlin's reaction to the Maidan revolution was rooted in the ideological consolidation of the previous years: the emergence of a total ideology that designates the West as Russia's eternal enemy and Ukraine as the West's geopolitical pawn. Ilya Budraitskis and Ilya Matveev examine Russian foreign policy and the Kremlin's project to remake the Russian people to better serve its imperialist agenda.

This open access book presents a comprehensive exploration of resilient innovation and innovation for resilience within the context of the PR China Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). By integrating insights from diverse stakeholders, it offers a fresh perspective on enhancing resilience through innovation while promoting sustainable practices and advanced innovation solutions for enhancing resilience..
The innovative approach proposes collaborative frameworks that leverage existing initiatives in standardization, research, and international cooperation as foundational elements for building resilience. This book aims to create a network of innovation centers along the BRI, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Covering a wide range of innovation and resilience related topics, the content includes assessments, regulations, risk management, and the role of critical infrastructures and the society in enhancing resilience. It is designed for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners interested in the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and international cooperation.
Key features of the book include:
1. Collaborative Insights: Contributions from a diverse array of experts and stakeholders, providing a multifaceted view of resilience in innovation.
2. Practical Frameworks: Actionable suggestions for implementing resilient innovation strategies, supported by case studies.
3. Strategic Relevance: Aligns with current global challenges, offering timely insights into the role of innovation in addressing systemic risks and enhancing sustainability.
This book is an essential resource for anyone looking to understand and contribute to the future of resilient innovation both along the Belt & Road Initiative and in a broader international context.

Why has multilateral peacebuilding in conflict-ridden states emerged as a depoliticized practice that rarely engages with local actors and agendas? And why has depoliticization persisted despite continued criticisms? Claiming Impartiality offers an innovative answer to the puzzling persistence of depoliticization in post-war peacebuilding that focuses on the institutional mandates, interests, and practices of those international and bilateral organizations that design and implement most peacebuilding interventions.

Drawing on and expanding a Bourdieusian field perspective, the book examines international organizations as actors in multiple fields of global governance. Using the case studies of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Timor-Leste, it traces the emergence and transformation of peacebuilding practices by leading international and bilateral organizations during the first two decades of the field's existence. The organizational lens highlights the tensions that exist between the objectives of simultaneously acting as a peacebuilding organization and as a peacekeeping, humanitarian, or development organization whose practices are to varying degrees committed to observing the twin principles of impartiality and neutrality. By thinking through these sometimes contradictory roles, the book offers new insights into how these organizations sideline questions of political agency in favor of expanding their influence into related fields of global governance. Claiming Impartiality discusses the future of peacebuilding and explores avenues for addressing political challenges to peace itself.

Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Frage ihrer Einfuehrung und zeigt dabei auf, dass zwar keine Kompetenz der Europaeischen Union im Rahmen der Wirtschafts- und Waehrungsunion besteht, wohl aber im Rahmen der ihr zugewiesenen sozialpolitischen Zustaendigkeit gem. Art. 153 AEUV sowie ueber den Europaeischen Sozialfonds. Dazu analysiert sie die historische Entwicklung sowie die systematischen Bezuege, aber auch vergleichbare Diskussionen zur US-amerikanischen Arbeitslosenversicherung. Sie zeigt daran anknuepfend Moeglichkeiten einer Einfuehrung ueber differenzierte Integration innerhalb, aber auch ausserhalb des Unionsrechts auf.

This proceedings volume offers the latest developments in information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the tourism and hospitality industry. Feature papers presented at the International Federation of IT and Travel & Tourism (IFITT)'s 33rd Annual ENTER International e-Tourism Conference held in Breda, The Netherlands, this book demonstrates the breadth and maturity of contemporary eTourism research with strong focus on AI including large language models (LLMs), GenAI as a research instrument, AI-driven personalization, and the ethical implications of automation. The volume further emphasizes digital ecosystems and governance, with research on smart destinations, digital distribution, blockchain adoption, ICT lifecycles in tourism SMEs, and city metrics.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) continue to revolutionize travel, tourism, and hospitality. Over 30+ years, the ENTER eTourism conference has been at the forefront of providing insight on the use and impact of new technologies for travel, tourism and hospitality practitioners and researchers. However, the rapid development and deployment of new developments, including generative AI (GenAI), service robotics, IoT, and Extended Realities (XR) technologies, among others, call for a rapid and careful reassessment of ICT in tourism, particularly including ethical and societal considerations.

Bridging the gap between visionary research and practical implementation to foster resilient tourism systems that serve businesses, communities, and the planet, this book is valuable to scholars, researchers, students, and practitioners in tourism and hospitality.

This book conducts an in-depth exploration of the dissemination of Chinese characters in East Asia and the formation and development of Chinese character-based writing systems, emphasizing the unique contributions of various ethnic groups within the Chinese character cultural sphere to the evolution of Chinese characters. Based on historical research and cross-cultural comparison, this book offers a comprehensive and insightful perspective, revealing the developmental laws and cultural attributes of Chinese character-based writing systems in East Asia. It pioneers a new research field in Chinese character studies and possesses positive reference value for understanding the evolution of the Chinese character system from a more macroscopic perspective.

This book brings together a group of active researchers and leading scholars of international social work with a special interest in contemporary issues and developments in Asian & Pacific Island regions. The original works stem from peer-reviewed paper presentations and invited keynote speeches at the APISWEA International Conferences, offering a comprehensive exploration of "state of the art" of Asian Pacific Islander social work research and practice with additional contributions from the broader international community. The manuscripts span diverse clusters, from professionalization and education in social work to emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence in practice, responses to epidemics, and the integration of indigenous perspectives in social work. By addressing critical themes such as localization, community development, and international collaboration, this rare collection provides valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners.

Along with a sister volume entitled Social Work and Social Sciences in the New Era: Cultural Perspectives and Asian Pacific Island Approaches, the book serves as an essential resource for social work professionals, educators, policymakers, and researchers who seek to understand and contribute to the evolving landscape of social work in the Asia-Pacific region. It is particularly beneficial for those involved in shaping the future of social work education, practice, and policy, ensuring that the unique needs and perspectives of diverse communities are effectively addressed.

Was Brexit more than a political and economic rupture - was it a civilisational one?

This book uncovers the cultural and identity foundations of Brexit, exploring how British elites came to see the UK not just as a nation, but as a civilisation state. Moving beyond party politics and policy debates, it traces how leaders and thinkers evoked Britain's exceptionalism - a sovereign, maritime, and Atlantic power with a global destiny rooted in empire. These narratives, mirroring those of civilisation states, shaped the country's uneasy relationship with Europe, and its final decision to withdraw from the EU. By revealing the deep historical and symbolic layers beneath the Brexit process, the book discloses how civilisational thinking is used to strengthen a nation's global voice, but drives it towards isolation.

This book explores the intricate relationship between time and politics, offering a comprehensive analysis of how temporal strategies have shaped political discourse in Poland from 1989 to 2024. By equating social time with political time, the monograph reveals the continuity of change despite attempts to disrupt it, providing a unique perspective on the socio-political transformations that have occurred since the fall of communism. Key concepts such as the manipulation of temporal strategies, the use of time as a political tool, and the impact of watershed moments are thoroughly examined. The book delves into how politicians have used time to influence public perception, create political narratives, and maintain power. By tracing the evolution of these strategies, the author uncovers the profound effects of temporal manipulation on political competition and societal change. Ideal for scholars, researchers, and students of political science and history, this monograph offers valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between time and politics. It is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of political discourse and the role of time in shaping political realities.

This book focuses on the innovative startup ecosystem within universities which combines research and practice from emerging and transitioning economies, offering a comprehensive look at how universities, governments, and communities co-create robust entrepreneurial ecosystems. With a special focus on Southeast Asia and Africa, the book explores how academic institutions can become launchpads for entrepreneurial ventures, especially in contexts where resources are limited but innovation is thriving. Spanning diverse themes such as regulatory challenges, incubation models, funding gaps, technology transfer, and regional development, this book includes empirical case studies and critical reflections that unpack the enabling and inhibiting factors shaping university-driven entrepreneurship. From Jakarta's slum-based MSME incubation models to encrypted funding platforms in the digital age and from policy governance in South Africa to market access frameworks in Cambodia, each chapter offers grounded insights with global relevance.

What distinguishes this work is its interdisciplinary and practice-oriented approach, combining policy analysis, grassroots documentation, institutional theory, and field-based strategies. It presents an accessible yet scholarly lens through which stakeholders such as academics, policymakers, ecosystem builders, and startup founders can explore how innovation ecosystems can be cultivated even in low-resource settings. The reader will benefit from a comparative perspective on what works in diverse institutional and cultural contexts and from actionable insights into designing inclusive and resilient innovation systems. The book aims to inspire universities and policymakers to reimagine their role as knowledge producers and strategic actors driving local development, youth empowerment, and sustainable entrepreneurship.