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Research Handbook on Marriage, Cohabitation and the Law (Research Handbooks in Family Law series)
This insightful Research Handbook provides an international perspective on the key legal debates surrounding marriage and cohabitation. Drawing on the expertise of established and emerging scholars, a comparative approach is used to analyse cross-jurisdictional trends and divergences in relationship recognition and family formation.Chapter authors explore the contested meanings and changing boundaries of marriage, the scope and role of alternative opt-in regimes, and the justification for conferring rights and responsibilities based on intimate relationships. Responding to the rising numbers of couples cohabiting without formalising their relationship, contributors examine how legal systems should respond to these changing patterns of relationships, and what it means to be a ‘family’ in different societies. Ultimately, they argue against imposing a particular view of what marriage should be, showcasing the importance of a diverse range of views and perspectives on the topic.The Research Handbook on Marriage, Cohabitation and the Law presents a comprehensive overview of the field, and will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of family law, law and gender, and law and society. It will also be an essential guide for policy-makers and legal practitioners seeking insights into the processes of family formation across jurisdictions.
Research Handbook on Measuring Poverty and Deprivation (Elgar Handbooks in Development)
Currently, works on poverty constitute only a small part of contemporary economic research; however, the field of poverty and deprivation is undoubtedly one rising in popularity and relevance. Encompassing chapters that address both unidimensional and multidimensional poverty, this timely Research Handbook explores all aspects of poverty and deprivation measurement, not only detailing broad issues but also scrutinising specific domains and aspects of poverty, such as health, energy and housing.Succinct and highly focused, it brings together a diverse range of authors to employ a combination of theoretical and empirical methodologies to offer well-rounded explorations of complex topics. Expansive in scope, the Research Handbook includes case studies that examine poverty across the globe, with a particular focus on covering Africa, China, India and Latin America, producing a comprehensive, rigorous and interdisciplinary resource. The Research Handbook will be an invaluable resource for not only economics researchers and graduate students but also policy makers dealing with issues related to poverty and deprivation. Chapters are designed to provide the reader with foundational knowledge of a topic that they can subsequently deepen by exploring the cited literature.
Research Handbook on Mediating International Crises
by David Quinn Jonathan Wilkenfeld Kyle BeardsleyCurrent conceptions of mediation can often fail to capture the complexity and intricacy of modern conflicts. This Research Handbook addresses this problem by presenting the leading expert opinions on international mediation, examining how international mediation practices, mechanisms and institutions should adapt to the changing characteristics of contemporary international crises. Chapters consider the challenges facing the international community when aiming to achieve lasting resolutions in intrastate and interstate conflicts during acute periods of crisis and potential or actual violence escalation. The authors also provide much-needed context for ‘gray zone conflict’, the actions of non-state actors, gender dynamics and biases that hinder mediation. The ever-expanding role of mediation means authors also cover human security, climate diplomacy and cyber disputes. Using extensive analysis of salient cases as well as quantitative studies of aggregate trends, this Research Handbook is the vital reference work for mediation in contemporary international politics. The concluding chapter explores the overarching themes and key policy recommendations from the leading voices in mediation. An essential reference for postgraduate researchers of international politics, this Research Handbook provides both quantitative and qualitative analysis to further case knowledge for research. In addition, the case studies and concluding chapter will be a much-needed resource for policymakers and practitioners in defence policy and peace advocacy due to their emphasis on lessons learned and best practice.
Research Handbook on Methods and Models of Competition Law (Research Handbooks in Competition Law series)
This comprehensive Handbook illuminates the objectives and economics behind competition law. It takes a global comparative approach to explore competition law and policy in a range of jurisdictions with differing political economies, legal systems and stages of development. A set of expert international contributors examine the operation and enforcement of competition law around the world in order to globalize discussions surrounding the foundational issues of this topic. In doing so, they not only reveal the range of approaches to competition law, but also identify certain basic economic concepts and types of anticompetitive conduct that are at the core of competition law. Taking a forward-thinking perspective, the Handbook also analyses the challenges to the assessment methodology of anticompetitive conduct that are posed by the growth of the digital environment and changing views on economic approaches. This Handbook’s detailed analytical and comparative approach to economics and competition law will be valuable for academics and students of these subjects. Its focus on policy and key case studies from across the globe will also be beneficial for legal practitioners and competition regulators.
Research Handbook on Migration and Education (Elgar Handbooks in Education)
Contributing to the shaping of education and migration as a distinct field of research, this forward-looking Research Handbook explores cross-cutting questions on the range of challenges facing education systems, migrant children and students today. Covering an impressive range of local, national and educational contexts, this Research Handbook explores diverse case studies, educational initiatives, approaches and policies that have been developed to support migrant and mobile students, educational professionals and schools. Chapters offer a broad understanding of the multifaceted nature of global migration today, exploring varied theoretical and methodological perspectives, and examining the educational challenges and opportunities presented by migration. The Research Handbook ultimately stresses the importance of interdisciplinary research into the complex phenomenon of global migration and its impact on education systems and the educational trajectories of migrant children. Students and scholars in the fields of education, migration, childhood studies and globalization studies will find this Research Handbook an invaluable reference. Its wide range of case studies on different educational provisions designed to support migrant children in schools will further benefit educational practitioners and policymakers.
Research Handbook on Migration, Gender, and COVID-19 (Elgar Handbooks in Migration)
Drawing together the latest research on migration, gender and COVID-19, this erudite Research Handbook contributes to a better understanding of the immediate and longer-term implications of the pandemic on gender dynamics and roles in international migration. Providing a wealth of expert critical analysis, it considers post-COVID-19 realities and assesses the future scope of research in this interdisciplinary field of study.Capturing multi-disciplinary insights and diverse geographies, the Research Handbook explores migration in all of its facets, from displacement and internal and international mobility to return migration and labour mobility. Chapters address topical issues relating to the policy and programmatic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for migration and migrants from a gender perspective. Marie McAuliffe and Céline Bauloz, alongside leading researchers and academics, present a major contribution to scholarly inquiry which is crucial for informing inclusive and sustainable responses to improve migrants’ wellbeing and protection.Offering a state-of-the-art review of the implications of COVID-19 on migration through the lens of gender, this Research Handbook will provide a thought-provoking resource for students and researchers in demography, migration studies, geography, political science, sociology and international law. Its critical examination of policy and programmatic interventions designed to address gender inequalities in migration will also be of significant interest to policymakers and practitioners.
Research Handbook on Minority Politics in the European Union
This timely Research Handbook provides a multidisciplinary overview of research on ethno-cultural minority issues at the supranational level of the EU. It delivers a state-of-the-art review of the EU’s approaches to development and institutional implementation of minority policies from the Treaty of Rome until today.Through critical analyses, this Research Handbook addresses minority politics from the perspectives of politicization and depoliticization of minority rights, anti-discrimination, case law, cultural and linguistic diversity protection, cohesion and regional development as well as enlargement and external action. Chapters also focus on policy areas that indirectly affect the lives of ethno-cultural minorities as well as non-policy approaches emanating from the tensions in the EU architecture and legal framework. Although the Research Handbook confirms the EU’s ambivalence towards minority politics, it also offers new views on a policy area that is under pressure to become more flexible.Offering an innovative approach in analysing policy, legislative and institutional developments, this Research Handbook will be an ideal read for students and scholars interested in European politics and public policy. Its critical insights on European policy will also make this a beneficial read to policy-makers.
Research Handbook on Modern Legal Realism (Research Handbooks in Legal Theory series)
This insightful Research Handbook provides a definitive overview of the New Legal Realism (NLR) movement, reaching beyond historical and national boundaries to form new conversations. Drawing on deep roots within the law-and-society tradition, it demonstrates the powerful virtues of new legal realist research and its attention to the challenges of translation between social science and law. Highlighting a contrast with the current Empirical Legal Studies movement, chapters employ a variety of theoretically grounded methods to understand law and address legal problems. They explore an impressive range of contemporary issues including immigration, policing, globalization, legal education, and access to justice, concluding with an examination of how different social science disciplines intersect with NLR. Incorporating global perspectives, the Research Handbook on Modern Legal Realism will be a key resource for scholars and students of legal theory and socio-legal studies. Illuminating the best approaches for combining social science considerations with expert perspectives on legal doctrines, it will also be of interest to practitioners and policy makers working in fields such as criminal and family law.
Research Handbook on Motivation in Public Administration (Elgar Handbooks in Public Administration and Management)
This cutting-edge Research Handbook brings together international scholars to provide a comprehensive overview of motivation within and beyond the field of public administration. Discussing the implications of contemporary research for theory and practice, it offers suggestions for the development of future research in the field. Contributions offer cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary insights into the theories that underpin motivation research and how motivation drives decisions across public, nonprofit, and private sector settings, highlighting key sector differences that influence decision-making. Covering a wide range of core motivational topics and subfields relevant to the study of public and nonprofit administration, chapters emphasize the key motivational factors that affect employee recruitment, selection, and retention and how they affect – and are affected by – employee behavior. Providing a wide-ranging coverage of the field, this Research Handbook is critical reading for scholars, researchers, and upper-level students of public administration and policy. It will also benefit practitioners in public and nonprofit organizations in need of a deeper understanding of the links between motivation and employee behavior.
Research Handbook on Nationalism
by Liah Greenfeld and Zeying WuAssembling scholarship on the subject of nationalism from around the world, this Research Handbook brings to the attention of the reader research showcasing the unprecedented expansion of the scholarly field in general and offers a diversity of perspectives on the topic. It highlights the disarray in Western social sciences and the rise in the relative importance of previously independent scholarly traditions of China and post-Soviet societies. Nationalism is the field of study where the mutual relevance of these traditions is both most clearly evident and particularly consequential. Chapters explore specific cases (some of them previously underexplored) across a range of topics, including: the construction of a national identity, the institutionalization of nationalism, democracy and self-determination, the roles of class, ethnicity, religion and race in nationalism, and the connection between nationalism and the economy. Offering a comparative perspective on nationalism across different regions and civilizations, this Research Handbook also allows the reader to compare and evaluate different approaches across the social sciences, re-examining their utility. Political science, sociology and international relations scholars will find this to be an essential read in exploring the wide-ranging differences in nationalism across different countries, and its effects both historically and in modern times. This will also be a valuable book for policy-makers looking for different perspectives on the topic.
Research Handbook on NATO (Elgar Handbooks in Political Science)
This timely Research Handbook provides novel insights into the institutional complexities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Through a defined focus on the post-Cold War evolution of NATO, it provides various theoretical perspectives on the Alliance and assesses wider research efforts within NATO studies.Written by thirty renowned international scholars and practitioners, chapters provide multidisciplinary insights into NATO’s legal and political developments. They examine existing research ventures within NATO scholarship, as well as potential future methodological advancements. The Research Handbook looks closely at NATO’s political and military decision-making, its principles of governance and its key fields of action. It additionally offers a significant analysis of the organization’s stability and cohesion.This comprehensive Research Handbook will be important for academics studying law, politics and international relations surveying the intricacies of regional organizations. It will be particularly beneficial for NATO practitioners and for researchers endeavouring to further the field of NATO studies.
Research Handbook on Natural Law Theory (Research Handbooks in Legal Theory series)
by Jonathan Crowe Constance Y. LeeThis thought-provoking Research Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of current research on natural law theory in ethics, politics and law, demonstrating the rigour and versatility of the tradition and offering an up-to-date picture of these ideas in the 21st century. Featuring contributions from leading international scholars in disciplines from law and government to philosophy and religious studies, the Handbook explores both the philosophical foundations of natural law thinking and its practical implications for law, politics and governance. Chapters showcase the breadth and diversity of contemporary natural law thought, going beyond the dominant Catholic and Thomist perspectives to investigate natural law ideas in a variety of religious and cultural traditions, such as Judaism, Islam and Confucianism, as well as African American and feminist theory. The Research Handbook on Natural Law Theory will prove an invaluable resource for scholars and students of law, legal theory, philosophy, politics and government, as well as theology and religious studies, who wish to engage with current thinking on natural law and its relevance to their fields. Legal practitioners and experts in public policy will also find its varied perspectives useful.
Research Handbook on New Frontiers of Equality and Diversity at Work: International Perspectives
Spanning five continents, this cutting-edge book provides a thorough international overview of equality, diversity and inclusion at work. Analysing the demographics of the workplace and the economic outcomes achieved by different segments of the population, it offers readers a better understanding of diverse work environments and how they are influenced by legislation and populations.Grounded in theoretical and legal frameworks and supported by primary and secondary research, the Research Handbook highlights which dimensions of diversity and equality at work should be addressed. Chapters cover topics such as gender inequality and the underrepresentation of women in managerial positions, non-discrimination employment legislation, the labour participation of persons with disabilities and more. Focusing on previously under-researched countries across the world, from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chile to Lebanon, Morocco, Singapore and several others from the Global South, this Research Handbook offers a fresh perspective on key issues within the workplace.This Research Handbook will be key reading for academics and graduate students in management, industrial relations, public policy and sociology looking to develop their knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion in an organisational context and in under-researched countries. It will also be of great benefit to policy makers and employers in government, civil society and the private sector who wish to increase diversity and improve their equality and inclusion policies and practices in the workplace.
Research Handbook on Nonprofit Accounting (Research Handbooks on Accounting series)
Bringing together a diverse team of renowned accounting scholars, this incisive Research Handbook presents a comprehensive evaluation of current research on nonprofit accounting, noting its major accomplishments and outlining opportunities for future study.The Research Handbook provides a broad overview of key topics related to accounting and financial reporting, including donor use of financial information, methods of measuring nonprofit performance, solvency and volunteer efforts, and the misuse and misstatements of accounting information. Chapters further examine a variety of oversight mechanisms, such as the roles of auditors, nonprofit boards, regulators, monitoring groups, taxes, and accounting standard-setters. With a central focus on the strengths and contributions of empirical archival, behavioural, and descriptive research methodologies, the Research Handbook ultimately considers fruitful avenues for future research.Presenting extensive analysis of nonprofit accounting research, this Research Handbook will prove an invaluable aid to students and scholars of accounting, management, business, economics, and public administration. Its expert integration of critical accounting research on colleges, foundations, and the healthcare sector will also benefit nonprofit managers, board members, regulators, charity monitors, and standard-setters.
Research Handbook on Nonprofit Governance (Research Handbooks in Business and Management series)
This multi-perspective Research Handbook provides a clear pathway through the nonprofit governance research field, pushing beyond the borders of current theory to expand and deepen the analytical framework for nonprofit governance. It offers an analysis of the basics including definitions, organizational forms and levels of governance, and takes a critical approach towards the normative and prescriptive tendencies in much of contemporary governance scholarship. Divided into four distinctly thematic parts, contributors provide an in-depth review of the last 20 years, building on the foundations of classical contributions and further exploring new theoretical approaches, while examining the governance challenges of diverse types of organizations, including those from both developed and developing countries. Future challenges including multilevel governance are expertly addressed, and insights leading towards a unified theory are proposed. This thoroughly engaging Research Handbook will be an excellent resource for scholars in business and strategic management, nonprofit management and civil society, interested in topics such as nonprofit governance practice and boards of directors, governance theory, stakeholder management, membership organizations, foundations and hybrid organizations. Teachers of nonprofit management will also find this invaluable as it addresses both the core concepts and the most recent developments.
Research Handbook on Not-For-Profit Law
by Matthew HardingRecent trends in the social, economic and political lives of many communities have created new challenges for the not-for-profit sector, which, in turn, have demanded new legal and regulatory responses. This Research Handbook takes account of these developments, providing a thorough insight to current scholarship in the field of not-for-profit law. Contributions from both established and emerging scholars reflect a variety of disciplinary and jurisdictional perspectives. A range of topics relating to the not-for-profit sector are explored, including: the sector’s composition and scope, the legal conception of charity, the tax treatment of not-for-profits and their supporters, and the regulation of not-for-profits. The Research Handbook also examines the often-neglected topic of not-for-profits and the constitution. This interdisciplinary Research Handbook makes a seminal contribution to defining not-for-profit law as a distinctive field of study, and in doing so, lays a strong foundation for future research. Scholars working on not-for-profit studies, whether in law, economics, sociology, philosophy, political science or business management, will find this a compelling body of work as it covers all aspects of not-for-profit law. Those working within the sector, or providing legal advice to the sector, will also find this Research Handbook to be an indispensable source of information.
Research Handbook on Nudges and Society
This timely Research Handbook offers a comprehensive examination of the growing field of nudging and its impact on society. The editors, Cass R. Sunstein and Lucia A. Reisch provide readers with a detailed exploration of the theoretical and empirical work on nudging, as well as an understanding of current and likely future developments in the field.Divided into five key thematic parts, the Research Handbook covers everything from the foundations of nudging to its use in organizations. Top international scholars approach the subject from multiple disciplines and perspectives, examining current debates in the field, including the relationship between nudges and freedom; nudges, behavioral biases, and noise; the fundamental role of default rules and social norms; and how nudging can enhance human welfare. Health, safety, poverty, employment, the environment (including climate change), economic growth, and civil rights are among the subjects covered. The Research Handbook concludes with a detailed look at contested ideas and real-world policies, such as ethics and the policies of Covid-19, as well as providing commentary on misconceptions about nudging.This Research Handbook is an essential resource for scholars and students in the fields of behavioral economics, public policy, law, public administration, public health, food policy, and sustainable development policy. The state-of-the-art practical insights into nudging, as well as accessible style, also makes this an invigorating read for practitioners.
Research Handbook on Ocean Governance Law (Research Handbooks in Environmental Law series)
This authoritative Research Handbook offers wide-ranging coverage of both traditional and emerging topics dealing with the regulation of ocean space and highlights the key academic debates around ocean governance. It provides a formidable interface between the 1982 UNCLOS Convention and the international law regulating ocean governance, while influencing its further evolution through suggestions for future research in the field.The Research Handbook on Ocean Governance Law demonstrates that governance of natural resources is instrumental for international peace and security, and that humankind’s well-being and its very resilience is intrinsically linked to the good governance of the ocean’s natural resources. Contributions from leading experts in the field include an innovative combination of both legal doctrine and case studies, with chapters looking into issues such as human rights, sustainability, maritime trafficking and terrorism.Providing a comprehensive and integrated approach towards ocean governance law, this important book will be an ideal resource for academics, researchers and students interested in environmental and international law. Legal advisors and policy makers working closely with ocean and maritime affairs will also find this a useful reference.
Research Handbook on Organizational Resilience (Research Handbooks in Business and Management series)
This Research Handbook identifies how resilience has evolved as a critical theoretical concept in the organizational sciences. International resilience scholars conceptualize and explore the various ways resilience can be embedded in theory and practice, offering new and updated perspectives on the importance of resilience in multiple contexts. Sections cover the nature of resilience at employee, team and organizational levels; the processes and dynamics of resilience in different contexts; and the antecedents and outcomes of these forms of resilience. Chapters provide case studies and theoretical frameworks to bring clarity, covering stress and coping, diversity and resilience, crisis management, employee behaviour, continuity and development. Organizational studies scholars interested in advancing theory and practice of resilience will find this Research Handbook includes a range of important considerations for the field. With application of several different levels of analysis, chapters discussing stress and coping will also appeal to those from a social psychology background.
Research Handbook on Patent Law and Theory: Second Edition (Research Handbooks in Intellectual Property series)
by Toshiko TakenakaThis significantly updated second edition of the Research Handbook on Patent Law and Theory provides comprehensive coverage of new research for patent protection in three major jurisdictions: the United States, Europe and Japan. Leading patent scholars and practitioners provide an innovative comparative analysis of fundamental issues such as patentability, examination procedure and the scope of patent protection, with current issues such as patent protection for industry standards, computer software and business methods. Updates to this second edition reflect on the dramatic changes that have taken place in the US Patent System since the first edition, including the American Invents Act that has introduced the first-inventor-to-file policy and post-issuance proceedings to challenge validity. Current topics such as the Unified Patent Court, patent litigation updates reform in the US, design patents and patent inventions in medical science are also addressed. Providing a strong scholarly foundation, as well as useful tips for practitioners to protect their intellectual assets in technologies effectively in the global market, this Research Handbook will be of great interest to legal scholars and students, as well as lawyers and patent attorneys.
Research Handbook on Patient Safety and the Law (Research Handbooks in Health and Medical Law series)
Despite recurring efforts, a gap exists across a variety of contexts between the protection of patients’ safety in theory and in practice. This timely Research Handbook highlights these critical issues and suggests both legal and policy changes are necessary to better protect patients’ safety. Multidisciplinary in nature, this Research Handbook features contributions from eminent academics, policy makers and medical practitioners from the Global North and South, discussing the essential facets concerning patient safety and the law. It highlights how the role of legislation and case law has the potential to influence, both positively and negatively, medical practice and the quality of care. Chapters explore patient safety and the global health agenda; physiotherapy; ‘non-therapeutic’ clinical research with children; patient safety awareness in healthcare education; and the increasing use of robotics and artificial intelligence in healthcare.Outlining a wide range of international perspectives on patient safety and the law, this Research Handbook will appeal to academics and researchers specialising in health and medical law, human rights, and healthcare regulation. It will also serve as a valuable resource for legal and medical practitioners alike, as well as clinicians and professionals working in healthcare governance.
Research Handbook on Plea Bargaining and Criminal Justice (Research Handbooks on Criminal Law and Justice series)
Bringing together established and emerging scholars from around the world, the Research Handbook on Plea Bargaining and Criminal Justice examines the history, practice, underlying issues and future evolution of plea bargaining, through which guilty pleas are secured and trials are avoided. Incorporating academic and practitioner perspectives, this ground-breaking Research Handbook provides a contemporary reflection on the challenges surrounding the societal and legal framing of this enduring feature of the criminal justice landscape. It situates these challenges within the broader discussion on responses to plea bargaining in comparative international and domestic contexts. Exploring the successes and failures of plea bargaining law reforms and practices within a diverse range of trial systems, this Research Handbook lays the foundation for future research and scholarship to enable a clearer understanding of plea bargaining. Drawing attention to contemporary debates and ongoing controversies, this Handbook will be a vital resource for scholars and students of criminal law and justice, criminology, and sociology and social policy.
Research Handbook on Political Partisanship
by Henrik Oscarsson Sören HolmbergThe strength of partisanship is a matter of historic importance and debate in modern democracies. Based on cutting-edge global data, the Research Handbook on Political Partisanship argues that partisanship is down, but not out, in contemporary societies. Contributors focus on four key areas of research: the role and importance of partisanship for democratic rule; how to measure and secure data on partisanship; explanations of the origins and development of partisanship; and the effects of partisanship on citizens’ attitudes and behaviours, and on the function of democratic systems. Engaging with key contemporary debates, from the rise of right-wing populist parties to the effects of digitalization partisanship, this timely Research Handbook highlights the significance of political partisanship not only in the present but for the future of democracies internationally. Featuring contributions from leading scholars, this book is critical for graduate students of political science and sociology, as well as for advanced researchers investigating elections and electorates, voter trends and contemporary political parties. Policymakers and political consultants will also benefit from its insights into the political engagement of voters and the future of party-based democracy.
Research Handbook on Political Propaganda
This timely Research Handbook draws on a wide range of international case studies to assess the transformative impact of modern communication landscapes on political propaganda. From Brexit to Donald Trump, from presidential elections in Mexico to political rallies in India, from ‘fake news’ to Cambridge Analytica, contributors demonstrate the ways in which growing digital platforms have amplified the reach and influence of political propaganda.International contributors dissect current political contexts, with a key focus on the growth of populism, nationalism, and alt-right politics, to understand how propaganda contributes to the formation and organization of political cultures. Chapters pay close attention to recent election campaigns across Europe, Asia, and the Americas and analyse political and cultural information wars that have been fuelled by misinformation and the so-called ‘fake news’ in digital media. Bringing together pioneering empirical research into contemporary communication, campaigning, journalism, and new media in a new political age, this Research Handbook provides a critical understanding of how propaganda contributes to the modern exercise of power globally.Offering interdisciplinary perspectives on an issue at the forefront of contemporary politics, this Research Handbook is a crucial resource for both scholars and students of international politics and relations, security, communications, and media studies. Its practical insights into political campaigning and new media will also benefit policymakers, governments, and citizens in handling key challenges posed to the healthy functioning of political systems by propaganda.
Research Handbook on Political Representation (Elgar Handbooks in Political Science)
At a time when political representation can be said to be facing its ultimate crisis, this crucial work clarifies the terms of the debate, providing an up-to-date analysis of the main conceptual and institutional controversies that have arisen surrounding this topic. Written by leading scholars in the field, contributions focus on how representation is conceptualised and its relation to democracy, examining how political institutions in different historical periods (ranging from the middle ages to the modern day) have ensured representation based on demands of various social forces. This Research Handbook also encapsulates the directions taken by the main strands of empirical research in political representation within the context of liberal democracies and beyond. Overall, this provides a major contribution to the growing understanding of one of the most important institutional inventions of contemporary politics. The Research Handbook on Political Representation is a comprehensive and agile guide to the main bodies of literature on representation for academic researchers in political science, sociology and history. It will also guide post-graduate and graduate students of the same fields in the exploration of the crucial research questions arising from the concept and reality of political representation.