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This volume explores various aspects of human mobility--both spatial and social--in Muslim societies from the earliest Islamic period to present times. In general, high mobility has been observed among Muslims throughout their history. The pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five religious duties, and many Muslim travellers, such as Ibn Battuta, voyaged through vast areas of the known world. However, the social and political impact of their movements or their being forced to move has rarely been analyzed from a multi-disciplinary approach. Researchers specializing in history, literature, anthropology, sociology and politics from eight countries contributed their insights on the mobility of both Muslims and non-Muslims in this multi-faceted volume, which will shed new light on the meaning of mobility and the movement of human beings in the even more globalized world of today.

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Protected areas have emerged as major arenas of dispute concerning both indigenous and environmental protection. In the Malay Archipelago, which contains two of the twenty-five biodiversity hotspots identified globally, rampant commercial exploitation is jeopardizing species and rural livelihoods. While protected areas remain the only hope for the imperiled biota of the Malay Archipelago, this protection requires consideration of the sustenance needs and economic aspirations of the local people. Putting forward the views of all the stakeholders of protected areas - conservation practitioners and planners, local community members, NGO activists, government administrators, biologists, lawyers, policy and management analysts and anthropologists - this book fills a unique niche in the area of biodiversity, and is a highly valuable and original reference book for graduate students, scientists and managers, as well as government officials and transnational NGOs. ... Read more

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Pekka Korhonen examines the nature of Japan's economic rise in relation to other nations in the Pacific area. With the Pacific Century nearly upon us, this work willbe of interest to those studying Pacific economic growth and integration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Very Very Interesting Book
I had to write a report on Japan and this book was amazing.It had almost everything i needed.If i could I would give it 6+ stars! This book is truly interesting and very educational.Kansas ... Read more

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This study shows why the prospects for integrating the Central and East European countries into the European Union are good. It provides quantitative analyses and case studies to demonstrate how European multinationals are enhancing their positions in global markets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

useful overview industrial restructuring CEECs
I used this book in a graduate course that I taught on European Union Enlargement with the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs). I found the collection of papers on the changing nature of trade flows betweeen EU and CEECs (toward higher quality products), foreign directinvestment (FDI) flows, industrial restructuring of CEEC industry onsectoral levels and how that ties in with restructuring of EU industriesinformative and useful. The political economy papers I also foundinteresting.

I especially like the point the editors make that, viewedin a dynamic context, CEEC industries could be integrated with EUindustries in a longer-term perspecive. The idea is to use each others'competitive advantages rather than considering the CEEC industries aslow-cost competition, and setting restructuring of both EU and CEECindustries in a - in principle at least- mutually beneficial dynamicprocess.Of course there are a number of real dangers in this process(creating dual economies and short-term unemployment, increasing ratherthan diminishing sectoral and regional development gaps etc). Clearlydevelopments are uneven and not smooth and some of the papers clearly pointthat out, but I think the basic approach makes a lot of sense andreinforces the integrationist ideas of e.g. the European Commission.Myonly problem with the book is the rather old data that are sometimes used,which in this context is even worse since in a situation of such massiveand fast restructuring the relevant data 'age' even faster than normal, buti know thatto some extent that is unavoidable.

Good reference book andwell-written, avoiding technical jargon. ... Read more