The Uses of the Middle Ages in Modern European States


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An assessment of the role of the Middle Ages in national historiography and in modern conceptions of national identity, looking at relatively young nations, and regions which claim national traditions but were slow to achieve, or regain, separate statehood. Examples range from Ireland and Iceland through Austria and Italy to Finland and Greece.







The Nation


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Luxembourg


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This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition of Bradt’s Luxembourg remains the only comprehensive, English-language guidebook to focus exclusively on this small but fascinating European country, where public transport is now entirely free. Reviews of the best places to stay and eat in all price categories, from luxury to budget, sit alongside information about every museum and significant place of interest, plus in-depth guides to local food, drink, language and culture, and advice on the best cycling and hiking trails, many of the latter having been personally explored by the author. This diminutive European state punches above its weight and is celebrated for everything from its early pioneering of commercial broadcasting with Radio Luxembourg to the fact that it has won the Eurovision Song Contest five times, while Luxembourg riders have won the Tour de France five times too. A foodie paradise, the country offers its own unique cuisine (a fusion of French and German influences) and perhaps the densest collection of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. Short distances and easy travelling (whether by public transport or driving) mean a lot can be covered in a relatively brief visit, from sixty medieval castles to plentiful opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts, including long-distance international walking trails linking with the Belgian Ardennes and German Eifel. Military history is also covered, notably the sites of the Battle of the Ardennes and Hamm American Military Cemetery (the burial place of General Patton), as are details of the most popular sites such as Vianden and Luxembourg City’s Museum of Modern Art. New for this edition are: the Royal Hamilius complex in Luxembourg City (designed by architect Sir Norman Foster); the post-renovation, UNESCO-listed Pétrusse casemates; infrastructure upgrades such as extensions to the City’s tram line and ever-easier train and aeroplane access; details on the new cultural and art spaces in Esch-sur-Alzette (a European City of Culture in 2022); new wine-related events in the Moselle; a new Slate Museum in Haut-Martelange; and the Mëllerdall Nature and Geopark’s inclusion in UNESCO’s network of global geoparks. With so much in Luxembourg to surprise you, Bradt’s Luxembourg is the perfect travel companion.




Luxembourg


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The Nassaus of Luxembourg


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The Statecraft of Consensus Democracies in a Turbulent World


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Drawing on the work of Arend Lijphart, this book focuses on consensus democracies. These democracies entail a complex set of democratic institutional and conventional arrangements and can be regarded as a product of path-dependent development towards a national culture of compromise and bargaining. Taking a multi-dimensional and multi-spatial approach, this book examines the West central European consensus democracies of Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland, over the past 40 years. Magone examines how these democracies have been transformed by Europeanization thrusts and global turbulence yet are able to maintain political stability. It provides historical context including the different phases of transformation: the golden period (1945-1979); disorganised capitalism (1979-1993); and re-equilibration (1993-). It includes chapters on political culture, government, parliament, the rise of populism and political parties, subnational government, and the political economy and concludes deliberating on the relevance of consensus democracies’ experiences for the future of European and global governance. Based on original research, this book will be of strong interest to students and scholars of comparative politics, European government, West European politics, the politics of small states in Europe, and those with a particular interest in the politics of Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland.




The World Factbook


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