The first Democratic president for twelve years, William Jefferson Clinton--the "Man from Hope"--faced what looked like a fresh opportunity to move ahead with legislation. The years of "gridlock," whereby a president of one political party faced a Congress dominated by another, were over. After November 1994, when the Republicans gained control of both chambers of Congress, the years of gridlock and confrontation seemed set to return with a vengeance. The essays in this volume explore the Clinton presidency and examine the wide fluctuations in the president's popularity and achievements.

This is an exploration of the moral and pragmatic dilemmas involved in the relationships between states in an era of change, derived from a workshop held by the Centre for International Policy Studies. The concern of those present was to examine human rights in the contemporary world.

The Labour Government has unleashed a new dynamism in urban policy and politics in Britain and given rise to a variety of initiatives including elected mayors, regional development agencies and assaults on social exclusion and educational standards, to name but a few. This lucid and accessible text analyses the key changes in approach and policy since the 1970s - especially the increased role of the market and its implications for the legitimacy and accountability of local political structures. It provides a valuable introduction to the development and an insight into the opportunities and...

The Reagan presidency has been both eulogised and reviled. Supporters have claimed that Ronald Reagan not only regenerated American power and restored American prestige but changed the direction of domestic policy in a way which marked the end of a twenty year period of expanding government. This book explores the Reagan policy style and substance. It considers the initial aspirations of the two Reagan administrations, examines the constraints with which they had to contend, and assesses the legacy of achievement and failure.