"This book chronicles the political history and evolution of Malta's Parliament from 1800 to 2003 and is divided into three sections. Section One (1800-1921), the shortest of the three sections, with its study of the workings of the colonial style Council of Government, explores the emergence of a partially elected Chamber and the continuing Maltese struggle for responsible government. Section Two, which covers the period 1921 to 1964, examines Malta's first responsible government Parliament at work until its dissolution in 1933 when the 1921 Constitution which had created it, was first suspended and later withdrawn. It also gives a brief look at the events which followed until responsible government was re-instated in 1947. This section then takes the reader through the issues debated in Parliament and the Parliamentary process which culminated in Malta's Independence in 1964. Section Three covers the period 1964-2003, and allows the reader to explore Malta's transition to Republican Government, the closure of the military base and its implications for a Malta free from the last vestiges of colonialism, and the long road to EU membership." "The approach adopted in this study is unique since the author focuses on events as they arose in Parliament and hence allows the reader to see the vital role that Parliament has played in the political life of this micro-state. It is Parliament that speaks to the reader and ultimately it is up to the reader to make judgments about these events."--BOOK JACKET.

This book examines a crucial question about small states and their governments’ influence in the European Union (EU) decision-making processes. - Are EU small member state governments influential in EU decision-making processes? In other words, do they exercise influence in these processes? And if so, how and at which stage do they do this? This book seeks to answer the above questions by focusing on Malta - the smallest state in the EU - and whether it exercises influence in ‘uploading’ its preferences in two distinct stages of EU legislative decision-making processes - decision-shaping (formation) and decision-taking (adoption). The cases selected and analyzed showcase the Maltese government’s behaviour in legislative negotiations in differing EU policy spheres that are extremely relevant to it. These are the adoption of EU directives on pyrotechnic articles (falling under the EU competition and consumer health and safety policy spheres) and on the extension of EU long-term residence to beneficiaries of international protection (falling under EU immigration policy). As analyzed in the latter chapters of the book, Malta’s government has achieved varying degrees of success in its exercise of influence in these EU decision-making processes.

This scholarly yet accessible book explores the social anthropology of Malta within the context of regional cultural exchange between the Maltese and their neighbors. Contributors to Malta's rich cultural development have been the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Sicilians, Greeks, Romans, Berbers, Arabs, Turks, Normans, Spaniards, French, British, and others. Other important contributors have been the Holy See and the Order of St. John, whose members have often been known simply as the Knights of Malta. Malta is a missing link to understanding many interrelationships among Mediterranean peoples and civilizations that hitherto have remained hidden or problematic. Located at the center of the Mediterranean Basin, Malta has been pivotal in numerous cultural transformations and can serve as a prism for understanding much that is important about lifeways in the Mediterranean: trade, subsistence systems, religion, urbanization, and the transmigration of peoples in war and in peace.

Reflecting Malta's unique and often contentious road to EU membership, the book explores the historical context and outlines how Maltese processes and policies have changed since membership and whether a causative link exists between these changes and Malta's membership of the EU. A wide range of primary and secondary sources facilitate the study complemented by a series of interviews with a broad range of Malta's political and social actors as well as individuals from EU institutions.

British Malta, 1798–1835 explores the incorporation and early administration of Malta as a British protectorate, and later as a Crown colony. Few connections existed between Great Britain and Malta before 1798, but Napoleon’s Mediterranean ambitions forged a link that remained even after the expulsion of the French. Malta’s incorporation into the British Empire encountered numerous and varied challenges: a deadly plague, diplomatic rows, economic rebuilding, continual food supply obstacles, and the unique challenge of governing a long-subjugated population. The Maltese people spent the previous 228 years ruled by an anachronistic crusading order that they were barred from joining. While most sought the protection of the British government, many also strove for more Maltese autonomy and agency. This tension helped define the first three and a half decades of British rule in Malta. Reaching beyond the traditional periodization of the Napoleonic era, this book provides a broader context of the fitful growth of the British Empire. Scholars and general readers drawn to the history of Malta, the British Mediterranean, and the expansion of the British Empire will find value in this narrative history.

The purpose of this volume is to present a snapshot of the state of the art of research on the languages of the Maltese islands, which include spoken Maltese, Maltese English and Maltese Sign Language. Malta is a tiny, but densely populated country, with over 422,000 inhabitants spread over only 316 square kilometers. It is a bilingual country, with Maltese and English enjoying the status of official languages. Maltese is a descendant of Arabic, but due to the history of the island, it has borrowed extensively from Sicilian, Italian and English. Furthermore, local dialects still coexist alongside the official standard language. The status of English as a second language dates back to British colonial rule, and just as in other former British colonies, a characteristic Maltese variety of English has developed. To these languages must be added Maltese Sign Language, which is the language of the Maltese Deaf community. This was recently recognised as Malta’s third official language by an act of Parliament in 2016. While a volume such as the present one can hardly do justice to all aspects of a diverse and complex linguistic situation, even in a small community like that of Malta, our aim in editing this book was to shed light on the main strands of research being undertaken in the Maltese linguistic context. Six of the contributions in this book focus on Maltese and explore a broad range of topics including: historical changes in the Maltese sound system; syllabification strategies; the interaction of prosody and gesture; the constraints regulating /t/-insertion; the productivity of derivational suffixes; and raising phenomena. The study of Maltese English, especially with the purpose of establishing the defining characteristics of this variety of English, is a relatively new area of research. Three of the papers in this volume deal with Maltese English, which is explored from the different perspectives of rhythm, the syntax of nominal phrases, and lexical choice. The last contribution discusses the way in which Maltese Sign Language (LSM) has evolved alongside developments in LSM research. In summary, we believe the present volume has the potential to present a unique snapshot of a complex linguistic situation in a geographically restricted area. Given the nature and range of topics proposed, the volume will likely be of interest to researchers in both theoretical and comparative linguistics, as well as those working with experimental and corpus-based methodologies. Our hope is that the studies presented here will also serve to pave the way for further research on the languages of Malta, encouraging researchers to also take new directions, including the exploration of variation and sociolinguistic factors which, while often raised as explanatory constructs in the papers presented here, remain under-researched.

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a small island country located in the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Sicily, Italy. The country is divided into three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Malta is known for its stunning coastline, pristine beaches, ancient ruins, and historic architecture. The capital city, Valletta, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination due to its rich history and cultural significance. Malta has a diverse population and a rich cultural heritage that is influenced by its location and history. The country has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has been ruled by numerous foreign powers, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and British. The blend of different cultures and influences can be seen in the country’s cuisine, language, music, and traditional festivals. Malta is also known for its warm climate, friendly people, and laid-back lifestyle, making it a popular destination for tourists and expatriates. Overall, Malta is a unique and enchanting country that offers visitors a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.