How has the world coped with past energy crises? In this volume, Marcus reveals both the shortcomings and failures and the surprising successes of past efforts. With the decline of the Cold War, energy policy issues are among the most important factors in world politics. Energy policies provide a new context for the evolution of other internationally significant policies; namely, global trade, new Eastern European economies and emerging environmental issues. Introducing energy issues by reviewing events which transpired in the Persian Gulf after August 1990, Marcus then examines trends in...

Consolidating alternative perspectives on communication and negotiation, this volume reviews the work of noted communication scholars and suggests directions for future research. It explores bargaining planning, framing and reframing, as well as relational communication with opponents, constituents and audiences.

Controversial Issues in Educational Policy examines the current debates in US education including such issues as parental choice, decentralization, bilingual education and the role of business. For each issue, tensions among the conflicting ideas of conservatism and liberalism and among the basic societal values of equity, liberty and efficiency and excellence are examined. Bierlein discusses multiple aspects of each topic and equips readers with a foundation necessary to carefully analyze the debates.

In the last 35 years, health care in the US has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Americans view access to health care as important and take pride in their excellent medical care technology. However, there is growing consensus that the US health care system is in crisis - but there is far less agreement on what to do about it. This book examines the major controversies confronting American society, health care professionals and policy makers: access to health care, costs and financing health care and the quality of health care. Kronenfeld discusses whether the system can solve these...