The Tragedy Of Property

Russian novels, poetry and ballet put the country squarely in the European family of cultures and yet there is something different about this country, especially in terms of its political culture. What makes Russia different? Maxim Trudolyubov uses private property as a lens to highlight the most important features that distinguish Russia as a political culture. In many Western societies, private property has acted as the private individual’s bulwark against the state; in Russia, by contrast, it has mostly been used by the authorities as a governance tool. Nineteenth-century Russian liberals did not consider property rights to be one of the civil causes worthy of defending. Property was associated with serfdom, and even after the emancipation of the serfs the institution of property was still seen as an attribute of retrograde aristocracy and oppressive government. It was something to be destroyed – and indeed it was, in 1917. Ironically, it was the Soviet Union that, with the arrival of mass housing in the 1960s, gave the concept of private ownership a good name. After forced collectivization and mass urbanization, people were yearning for a space of their own. The collapse of the Soviet ideology allowed property to be called property, but not all properties were equal. You could own a flat but not an oil company, which could be property on paper but not in reality. This is why most Russian entrepreneurs register their businesses in offshore jurisdictions and park their money abroad. This fresh and highly original perspective on Russian history will be of great interest to anyone who wants to understand Russia today.

Winner of the 2017 Paul Sweezy Marxist Sociology Book Award from the American Sociological Association Although humans have long depended on oceans and aquatic ecosystems for sustenance and trade, only recently has human influence on these resources dramatically increased, transforming and undermining oceanic environments throughout the world. Marine ecosystems are in a crisis that is global in scope, rapid in pace, and colossal in scale. In The Tragedy of the Commodity, sociologists Stefano B. Longo, Rebecca Clausen, and Brett Clark explore the role human influence plays in this crisis, highlighting the social and economic forces that are at the heart of this looming ecological problem. In a critique of the classic theory “the tragedy of the commons” by ecologist Garrett Hardin, the authors move beyond simplistic explanations—such as unrestrained self-interest or population growth—to argue that it is the commodification of aquatic resources that leads to the depletion of fisheries and the development of environmentally suspect means of aquaculture. To illustrate this argument, the book features two fascinating case studies—the thousand-year history of the bluefin tuna fishery in the Mediterranean and the massive Pacific salmon fishery. Longo, Clausen, and Clark describe how new fishing technologies, transformations in ships and storage capacities, and the expansion of seafood markets combined to alter radically and permanently these crucial ecosystems. In doing so, the authors underscore how the particular organization of social production contributes to ecological degradation and an increase in the pressures placed upon the ocean. The authors highlight the historical, political, economic, and cultural forces that shape how we interact with the larger biophysical world. A path-breaking analysis of overfishing, The Tragedy of the Commodity yields insight into issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change.

This book focuses on the economic aspects of intellectual property (IP). It includes considerations of the wider category of intangible assets. However, the primary focus is devoted to patents which the author argues are the most vivid example of the Tragedy of Intangible Abundance (TIA). TIA touches upon a key issue in the contemporary economy. On the one hand, there is an enormous supply of IP, yet, on the other hand, such an abundance does not necessarily solve existing issues but rather creates new ones as well. This book elaborates on the reasons for the emergence of TIA and its consequences. The author uses clear metaphors to explain very complex issues. The book provides a valuable and interdisciplinary analysis of the field and offers practical solutions. It is based on the data collected by the author during the qualitative research he conducted among a group of start-ups. It presents guidance on determining which instrument is the most efficient for a particular situation. It also provides arguments for decision-makers and their advisors as to why a more open approach towards intellectual property would be more beneficial under many circumstances in the contemporary economy. While universal issues are addressed, the author distinguishes the European perspective too. The book is written in a clear and concise style and covers all of the crucial aspects of IP management. It will find an audience among scholars of economics and business.

‘Brilliant’ Financial Times ‘Hollis expertly weaves together the human tragedy and high politics behind the explosion of one of the world’s greatest cities’ Dan Snow The reclaimed history of a woman whose tragic life tells a story of madness, forced marriages and how the super-rich came to own London June 1701, and a young widow wakes in a Paris hotel to find a man in her bed. Within hours they are married. Yet three weeks later, the bride flees to London and swears that she had never agreed to the wedding. So begins one of the most intriguing stories of madness, tragic passion and the curse of inheritance. Inheritance charts the forgotten life of Mary Davies and the fate of the land that she inherited as a baby – land that would become the squares, wide streets and elegant homes of Mayfair, Belgravia, Kensington and Pimlico. From child brides and mad heiresses to religious controversy and shady dealing, the drama culminated in a court case that determined not just the state of Mary’s legacy but the future of London itself.

Introduction by Salvatore Engel-Di Mauro Foreword by Ariel Salleh This book takes as its object of critique one of the best known and most influential arguments in contemporary applied ethics which is biologist Garrett Hardin’s case for “lifeboat ethics.” John Clark analyzes the moral dimensions of world hunger, foreign aid, immigration policy, and population growth. Clark critiques the “lifeboat ethics” as a way to explore in depth both the common and the commons. It is about the truth we hold in common, and about certain falsehoods that we hold in common. This book also contains Garrett Hardin’s 1974 essay "Living on a Lifeboat"

Winner of the 2017 Paul Sweezy Marxist Sociology Book Award from the American Sociological Association Although humans have long depended on oceans and aquatic ecosystems for sustenance and trade, only recently has human influence on these resources dramatically increased, transforming and undermining oceanic environments throughout the world. Marine ecosystems are in a crisis that is global in scope, rapid in pace, and colossal in scale. In The Tragedy of the Commodity, sociologists Stefano B. Longo, Rebecca Clausen, and Brett Clark explore the role human influence plays in this crisis, highlighting the social and economic forces that are at the heart of this looming ecological problem. In a critique of the classic theory “the tragedy of the commons” by ecologist Garrett Hardin, the authors move beyond simplistic explanations—such as unrestrained self-interest or population growth—to argue that it is the commodification of aquatic resources that leads to the depletion of fisheries and the development of environmentally suspect means of aquaculture. To illustrate this argument, the book features two fascinating case studies—the thousand-year history of the bluefin tuna fishery in the Mediterranean and the massive Pacific salmon fishery. Longo, Clausen, and Clark describe how new fishing technologies, transformations in ships and storage capacities, and the expansion of seafood markets combined to alter radically and permanently these crucial ecosystems. In doing so, the authors underscore how the particular organization of social production contributes to ecological degradation and an increase in the pressures placed upon the ocean. The authors highlight the historical, political, economic, and cultural forces that shape how we interact with the larger biophysical world. A path-breaking analysis of overfishing, The Tragedy of the Commodity yields insight into issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change.

Renowned environmental and natural resource legal scholar Christine Klein is joined by Shannon Roesler, the Charlotte and Frederick Hubbell Professor of Environmental and Natural Resources Law at the University of Iowa College of Law, on the third edition of Property: Cases, Problems, and Skills. This comprehensive casebook combines the core, doctrinal elements of a 1L Property course with larger, more nuanced social, environmental, and ethical perspectives. This book offers a versatile, middle position in the Property market: it is straightforward and tightly-organized while also avoiding oversimplification. Property: Cases, Problems, and Skills offers a wealth of doctrinal, policy, and theoretical subtleties for professors who want to probe deeper. It adopts a modern, skills-based approach to Property Law, and includes a balance of classic and new cases, narrowly-focused skills exercises (including advocacy, drafting, client interviewing/counseling, and negotiation), and selected statutory excerpts. Chapter review problems (with answers provided in the Appendix for student self-testing) and a host of other pedagogical features—such as discussion problems that raise novel and modern challenges, “A Place to Start” doctrinal overview boxes, and “Reading Guide” boxes—aid student understanding and comprehension. A two-color interior breaks up text for easier reading, with judicious use of photographs, text boxes, and pedagogical diagrams. This clear and accessible casebook encourages students to engage with Property Law’s complexity, ambiguity, and nuance. New to the Third Edition: Expanded coverage of issues of race and class as they intersect with property law throughout the book. Expanded coverage of pressing social issues in property law, such as the eviction crisis and the affordable housing shortage. Edited versions of recent Supreme Court cases such as McGirt v. Oklahoma and Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, and updates to notes discussing contemporary property issues. Edits to chapters on estates and future interests to facilitate a range of choices about which material to cover. Benefits for instructors and students: Tightly and clearly organized, both substantively and visually, with a balance of new and classic cases Shorter page count than other Property casebooks—allowing it to focus on the core, doctrinal aspects of Property law Visual aids—including maps, diagrams, and photographs Clear identification of the majority/minority/trend status of each rule, as relevant Chapter Reviews—with concise post-case notes, multiple choice and essay questions (with answers in the Appendix), and “Bringing it Home” statutory practice (guiding students in researching their state’s statutory coverage of selected topics likely to be regulated by statute) Clearly-marked pedagogy—including “A Place to Start” boxes that present sufficient doctrinal background to free up precious class time for digging deeper into nuance and ambiguity “Reading Guide” boxes preceding cases—to guide the students in extracting contextual meaning from cases A skills exercise in each chapter—providing in-depth opportunities for students to develop skills related to the substantive material covered in the chapter A discussion problem in each chapter—providing a rich factual context to facilitate further exploration of law and policy as applied to fresh, modern contexts Post-case notes—including “Practice Pointers” asking students to re-draft ambiguous language in documents that precipitated litigation, to explore alternatives to litigation, and to advise clients on litigation strategy Notes on “The Place”—conveying background about the geographic location of the disputed property, and designed to remind students that legal disputes can be influenced by physical and human context Relevant statutory and Restatement excerpts—collected and presented in one location within the chapter (rather than scattered in snippets throughout) Periodic statutory excerpts and exercises—introducing students to the interplay of common law and statutory law “Test Your Understanding” sections—containing problems that the professor can work through during class (with answers in the teacher’s manual), or that can be left to the students for self-directed learning

As an important contribution to debates on property theory and the role of law in creating, disputing, defining and refining property rights, this volume provides new theoretical material on property systems, as well as new empirically grounded case studies of the dynamics of property transformations. The property claimants discussed in these papers represent a diverse range of actors, including post-socialist states and their citizens, those receiving restitution for past property losses in Africa, Southeast Asia and in eastern Europe, collectives, corporate and individual actors. The volume thus provides a comprehensive anthropological analysis not only of property structures and ideologies, but also of property (and its politics) in action.