This book provides a critical understanding of contemporary issues within a global society and how these relate to eight case study examples (The Netherlands, UK, USA, China, India, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Japan). The authors draw on their rich and diverse experience to explore four major themes of contemporary relevance: overall aging of societies; governance and institutions; emergency services and public health provisions; and community activism and involvement. The key issues within the book - sociability, social capital, and community development - are examined in the context of an increasingly aging world population. The authors' sense of optimism is linked to growing evidence that community activism is on the rise and can effectively plug the gap between public need and provision of service.

Ian G. Cook is Emeritus Professor of Human Geography at Liverpool John Moores University.

Jamie P. Halsall is Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.

Paresh Wankhade is Professor of Leadership and Management at Edge Hill University.

"Drawing from examples from across the world, this book argues for a recognition of the role of cooperation and sociability in addressing the public health challenges of the 21st century. This volume provides a welcome optimistic perspective on humanity's future, focusing on what can be achieved when communities work together. It does not provide easy answers, but rather sheds light on possible avenues for alternative, more equitable futures."

Katie Willis, Professor of Human Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London

Autorentext

Ian G. Cook is now Emeritus Professor of Human Geography at Liverpool John Moores University. An experienced teacher, researcher and PhD supervisor Ian has co-edited or co-authored 9 books to date and helped supervise 19 PhDs to completion. He co-edited the radical campaigning journal Contemporary Issues in Geography and Education in the 1980s and co-led the British Pacific Rim Research Seminar Series in the 1990s. He was also co-director of LJMU Community Strategies Research Team. His last book (also for Springer Press, New York) with Jamie Halsall of the University of Huddersfield was Aging in Comparative Perspective: Processes and Policies.

Jamie Halsall is a Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences in the School of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield. His research interests lie in the field of Sociology of Community. In December 2011 Jamie co published a book with Ian Cook, Aging in Comparative Perspective: Processes and Policies, which was published by Springer Press. Jamie is currently a Stream Co-ordinator at the British Sociological Association for the Social Divisions/Social Identities. He is the Book Review and Conference Report Editor for the international journal, Global Built Environment Review (GBER).

Paresh Wankhade is the Professor of Leadership and Management at Edge Hill University Business School. He is the founder Editor of International Journal of Emergency Services (an Emerald Group Publication) and is recognised as an expert in this field. He has published widely in peer reviewed journals and professional publications. His research and publications focus on analyses of strategic leadership, organisational culture, organisational change and interoperability within the public services with a special focus on emergency management. He chairs tracks on leadership and management of emergency services at major international conferences including the annual European Academy of Management (EURAM)Conference; British Academy of Management Conference and Public Administration Committee (PAC) Conference. His published work has contributed to inform debates around interoperability of public services and challenges faced by individual organisations.

Zusammenfassung
This book provides a critical understanding of contemporary issues within global society and how these relate to six case study examples (UK, USA, China, India, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Japan). The authors draw on their diverse experience to explore four major themes of contemporary relevance: overall aging of societies; governance and institutions; emergency services and public health provisions; and community activism and involvement. The key issues within the book--sociability, social capital, and community development--are examined in the context of an ever increasing aging world. The authors' sense of optimism is linked to growing evidence that community activism is on the rise and can effectively plug the gap between public need and provision of service.

Inhalt
Introduction.- United Kingdom.- United States.- China.- India.- South Africa.- Bangladesh.- Japan.- The Netherlands.- Conclusion: Looking to the future: what next?.