Regulating Religion: Case Studies from Around the Globe presents, through the inclusion of contributions by international scholars, a global examination of how a number of contemporary societies are regulating religious groups. It focuses on legal efforts to exert social control over such groups, especially through court cases, but also with selected major legislative attempts to regulate them. As such, this analysis falls within the broad area of the sociology of social control and more specifically, legal social control, a topic of great interest when studying how contemporary societies attempt to maintain social order. The factual details about social and legal developments in societies where religion has been defined as problematic include Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. This book will be of interest to researchers and students in the sociology of religion, the sociology of law, social policy, and religious studies as well as policy makers.

Freedom in the World, the Freedom House flagship survey whose findings have been published annually since 1972, is the standard-setting comparative assessment of global political rights and civil liberties. The survey ratings and narrative reports on 192 countries and a group of select territories are used by policy makers, the media, international corporations, and civic activists and human rights defenders to monitor trends in democracy and track improvements and setbacks in freedom worldwide. Press accounts of the survey findings appear in hundreds of influential newspapers in the United States and abroad and form the basis of numerous radio and television reports. The Freedom in the World political rights and civil liberties ratings are determined through a multi-layered process of research and evaluation by a team of regional analysts and eminent scholars. The analysts used a broad range of sources of information, including foreign and domestic news reports, academic studies, nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, individual professional contacts, and visits to the region, in conducting their research. The methodology of the survey is derived in large measure from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and these standards are applied to all countries and territories, irrespective of geographical location, ethnic or religious composition, or level of economic development.

This volume is the only current treatment of security issues in Central Asia for the nonspecialist, as well as specialists and policy-makers. Global Security Watch—Central Asia is the first authoritative examination of the security issues affecting, and affected by, the region where Russia, South Asia, China, and the Middle East meet. The author provides a comprehensive account of the strategic importance and challenges facing Central Asia written for policymakers, students, researchers, and interested general readers alike. Global Security Watch—Central Asia goes behind the scenes to explore both the internal factors and global influences affecting the stability of region and the nations that comprise it. Coverage includes the dynamics of each country's domestic politics, the allure of the region's natural resources, Central Asia's role in U.S./Russian relations, and the renewed focus on the region in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

The Nature of Human Rights.

Although Uzbekistan was established as an independent state in 1991, the rich history of the people and culture extend back thousands of years. Historical Dictionary of Uzbekistan covers several thousand years of Central Asian history, with emphasis on the period from the establishment of a territorialized entity under the Soviet regime called the Uzbek SSR, up through the period of the independent Republic of Uzbekistan. Historical Dictionary of Uzbekistan contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 400 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Uzbekistan.

This book examines how national, regional and international patent law can better respond to the interests of a diverse set of non-profit and public interest entities, and be of more benefit to developing countries. The book sets out a "tool-box" of participatory mechanisms which would foster third party participation in the patent process.

Freedom in the World, the Freedom House flagship survey whose findings have been published annually since 1972, is the standard-setting comparative assessment of global political rights and civil liberties. The survey ratings and narrative reports on 192 countries and a group of select territories are used by policy makers, the media, international corporations, and civic activists and human rights defenders to monitor trends in democracy and track improvements and setbacks in freedom worldwide. Press accounts of the survey findings appear in hundreds of influential newspapers in the United States and abroad and form the basis of numerous radio and television reports. The Freedom in the World political rights and civil liberties ratings are determined through a multi-layered process of research and evaluation by a team of regional analysts and eminent scholars. The analysts used a broad range of sources of information, including foreign and domestic news reports, academic studies, nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, individual professional contacts, and visits to the region, in conducting their research. The methodology of the survey is derived in large measure from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and these standards are applied to all countries and territories, irrespective of geographical location, ethnic or religious composition, or level of economic development. Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports democratic change, monitors freedom, and advocates for democracy and human rights.

A comprehensive approach to the problem of forced displacement involves understanding and addressing human rights issues in a multiplicity of forms. This collection aims to contribute to the institutional capacities of the many different players to `operationalise' the human rights of refugees and the internally displaced, by conceptualising the emerging issues and priorities, and advancing policy thinking on human rights and forced displacement. Each of the sections of the book approaches this issue from a different perspective. The section on standards asks: What international human rights standards apply to the forcibly displaced? How do they apply? Have there been failures? Are there gaps in the international standards? Are there conflicts? The section on monitoring reporting asks: Who monitors human rights violations? Who reports the findings, and to whom? What are the respective responsibilities of the different actors? The section on solutions asks where solutions lie: Environmental planning and development? International prosecution of war criminals? Rebuilding legal infrastructures and national institutions? Enhancing the role of human rights NGOs to monitor, report, and frame forced displacement in human rights terms for increased public understanding and interest? The final section looks to the future, and considers where asylum fits into the spectrum of solving the nature of forced displacement today, the capacities and limitations of international criminal tribunals and the co-operative arrangements and practical divisions of labour that need to be fashioned between international agencies, and service relief providers.

This book reviews and analyses the comprehensive socioeconomic reforms undertaken in Uzbekistan since 2016 by the government led by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The volume takes the reader through the different sectors of the economy and the effects of reforms on the country’s citizens. The various developments are detailed, examining the gains and the gaps in terms of policy and implementation. Using the broad tools of economics and, in particular, of development economics, the authors present evidence to drive their conclusions and recommendations, and also draw on comparative cases from policy and practice to illustrate alternative approaches and results from measures in other transition countries. Implementing Uzbekistan’s ambitious economic transformation into a market economy is a challenging process that takes time. This book provides the first systematic and comprehensive discussion of the government’s reform areas, including the macroeconomic fundamentals, business and investment climate, the energy, transport, health, education, social protection, financial, banking and agriculture sectors, regional trade, tourism and transport connectivity, reform of state-owned enterprises, as well as public services, citizen engagement and gender equality.