Central / national / federal government Books
McFarland & Co Inc Classified
Book Synopsis When the framers of the Constitution gathered in the summer of 1787, their deliberations were shrouded in secrecy. The Pennsylvania State House was locked, armed guards were posted and the 55 delegates of the Constitutional Convention were sworn to secrecy by presiding officer George Washington. Ordinary Americans were allowed no role in shaping the country''s national charter. Its principle architect, James Madison, believed secrecy was necessary to prevent a thousand of erroneous and perhaps mischievous reports, and directed that his personal notes from the Convention not be published until after his death. Secrecy has always played a role in American governance, from the First Continental Congress to the Manhattan Project to today''s controversial procedures for protecting national security. The author examines the balance between the ideal of openness in government and the real world need for secrecy, and the political accommodations that have been made for
£20.89
McFarland & Co Inc Calvin Coolidge
Book Synopsis This portrait of Calvin Coolidge reveals an astute politician and thinker seeking to restrain the unprecedented spending pressures of the 1920s and maintain a limited role for the federal government within his definition of progressivism. He did so without a strong party caucus in Congress. Instead, he used considerable rhetorical skills, a knack for publicity, and the advent of radio and other new forms of mass-circulation media to sway public opinion and keep his priorities at the forefront of national politics throughout his presidency. The book argues that, although Coolidge has been seen as the inspiration for supply-side economics and tax cuts amid growing budget deficits since the 1980s, his policy was to secure budget surpluses and debt reduction before tax cuts. The book examines his approach to the issues that continue to trouble American politics today, including questions about the scale and scope of the federal government.
£32.39
Simon & Schuster Washingtons Farewell
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£15.30
Simon & Schuster The Triumph of William McKinley
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£17.00
Simon & Schuster The Corruption Chronicles Obamas Big Secrecy Big
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£14.45
Simon & Schuster All the Presidents Men
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£16.14
Simon & Schuster Rediscovering Americanism
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£14.44
Threshold Editions The Great Destroyer
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£15.29
Simon & Schuster Buyers Remorse
Book SynopsisSynopsis coming soon.......Trade Review"Bill Press makes the case why, long after taking the oath of office, the next president of the United States must keep rallying the people who elected him or her on behalf of progressive causes. That is the only way real change will happen. Read this book." -- Senator Bernie Sanders"Bill Press speaks truth to power: on radio, on television, and in this book. And the truth is, while President Obama has done a lot of good, his Administration has let many progressives down." -- Congressman Keith Ellison"In Buyer's Remorse, Bill Press outlines why many progressives feel let down by the Obama years. On the one hand there's a massive expansion of health care, more progressive taxes and a long economic crisis, but one nowhere as bad as Europe's. But the 1 percent's hold on the economy still stands, and we see stagnating or falling wages." -- Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor"A stinging but not unreasonable j'accuse." -- Kirkus
£15.20
Simon & Schuster Leadership
Book SynopsisFrom Pulitzer Prize-winning author and esteemed presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, an invaluable guide to the development and exercise of leadership from Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The inspiration for the multipart HISTORY Channel series Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.“After five decades of magisterial output, Doris Kearns Goodwin leads the league of presidential historians” (USA TODAY). In her “inspiring” (The Christian Science Monitor) Leadership, Doris Kearns Goodwin draws upon the four presidents she has studied most closely—Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson (in civil rights)—to show how they recognized leadership qualities within themselves and were recognized as leaders by others. By looking back to their first entries into public life, we encounter them at a t
£24.00
Simon & Schuster Leadership
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£17.09
Simon & Schuster Lion of the Senate When Ted Kennedy Rallied the
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£16.00
Threshold Editions Liars How Progressives Exploit Our Fears for
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£13.60
University of Texas Press White House Operations
Book SynopsisThis exploration of Lyndon B. Johnson's highly personalized White House operations provides far-reaching implications for the nature of effective presidential management.Table of Contents Foreword Preface 1. Introduction 2. Duality, Change, and Stabilization 3. The Johnson White House: An Overview 4. Johnson’s Management Style 5. Developing the Legislative Program 6. Developing Executive Policy 7. Directing the Executive Branch 8. Representing the President 9. Conclusion Appendix. The White House: Comments on Size and Service Functions Notes Index
£17.99
Outskirts Press Trump and the Resurrection of America
Book SynopsisWith the recent upset of the century, the shadow government of this world has experienced its first real setback with the election of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States. The globalists now tremble as Trump and this movement threatens their totalitarianism world government. Although optimism has returned, the battle now begins as President Donald J. Trump leads America''s second revolution. This book picks up where the authors previous book What One Man Can Do leaves off and addresses some very disruptive uncomfortable truths yet inspires and empowers the reader like no other body of work on this topic. We must acquire a substantially new way of thinking if we are to win this battle as failure is not an option. We must not surrender to the false song of globalism. So, I am asking everyone to join this incredible movement. I am asking you to dream big, and bold and daring things for your family and for your country. I am asking you to believe in yourself again and I am as
£13.95
Outskirts Press Out of Many One
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£15.95
New York University Press After Obama
Book SynopsisExamines the complicated political legacy of our first black presidentWritten during the presidency of Donald Trump, After Obama examines the impact President Barack Obama and his administration have continued to have upon African American politics. In this comprehensive volume, Todd C. Shaw, Robert A. Brown, and Joseph P. McCormick II bring together more than a dozen scholars to explore his complex legacy, including his successes, failures, and contradictions. Contributors focus on a wide range of topics, including how President Obama affected aspects of African American politics, how his public policies influenced the quality of Black citizenship and life, and what future administrations can learn from his experiences. They also examine the present-day significance of Donald Trump in relation to African American politics. A timely and thorough work, After Obama provides the first examination of the Obama administration in its entirety, and the lasting impact it has had on AfricanTrade ReviewIn After Obama: African American Politics in a Post-Obama Era, Professors Todd C. Shaw, Robert A. Brown, and Joseph P. McCormick II have assembled a broad array of essays from some of the top political scientists in the nation. This is a brilliant body of scholarship that examines several aspects of President Barack Obama’s administration such as the public’s and the media’s perceptions of him, his interactions with various actors in black communities, and his policies. It is a must read text for anyone with interests in American politics, the American presidency, American government, foreign policy, gender politics, immigration policies, and race relations. -- Sharon Wright Austin, author of The Caribbeanization of Black Politics: Race, Group Consciousness, and Political Participation in AmericaIn this new work, editors Shaw (Univ. of South Carolina), Brown (Spelman College), and McCormick II (emer., Pennsylvania State Univ., York) offer a nuanced, insightful analysis. The authors focus on constituencies in the first part and public policies in the second, which allows several noted scholars to explore the symbolic and substantive aspects of the first African American president. -- K. Anderson, Eastern Illinois University * Choice *
£84.15
New York University Press Diversifying the Courts
Book SynopsisExamines the decisions of US presidents to appoint judges from diverse backgrounds to federal courtsIn Diversifying the Courts, Nancy Scherer addresses why presidents chooseor don't chooseto diversify the federal courts by race, ethnicity, and gender. She explores how and why the issue became a bitter partisan fight in the first place, tracking the controversial historyand politicsof court diversification. Drawing on polls, political experiments, surveys and one-on-one interviews, Scherer illuminates the complicated relationship between diversity and court legitimacy. She shows us how diverse representation can positively impact perceptions of the court among women and racial minorities, while having a negative impact on the perceptions among white people and men. Ultimately, Diversifying the Courts provides insight into the impact of gender, race, and ethnicity on the courts, illuminating some of the major challenges facing the American judicial system in the years that lie ahead.Trade Review"Diversifying the Courts systematically examines the link between racial and gender diversity and the legitimacy of the federal judiciary. Nancy Scherer shows us that increased diversity does not automatically yield greater legitimacy toward the federal bench among all members of the public, resulting in a backlash against the courts." -- Eric Waltenburg, author of Choosing Where to Fight: Organized Labor and the Modern Regulatory State, 1948-1987"This book shows us why efforts to diversify the federal bench over the past four decades have done little to increase the legitimacy of the courts. Scherer compellingly explores this diversity dilemma, offering important insights about the future of our courts." -- Michael Zilis, author of The Rights Paradox: How Group Attitudes Shape US Supreme Court Legitimacy"[Scherer] shares takeaways from conversations with sitting district court justices and the empirical results of surveys on support for the courts and specific judges’ decisions given varying conditions of diversity." * Trial *
£62.90
New York University Press Diversifying the Courts
Book SynopsisExamines the decisions of US presidents to appoint judges from diverse backgrounds to federal courtsIn Diversifying the Courts, Nancy Scherer addresses why presidents chooseor don't chooseto diversify the federal courts by race, ethnicity, and gender. She explores how and why the issue became a bitter partisan fight in the first place, tracking the controversial historyand politicsof court diversification. Drawing on polls, political experiments, surveys and one-on-one interviews, Scherer illuminates the complicated relationship between diversity and court legitimacy. She shows us how diverse representation can positively impact perceptions of the court among women and racial minorities, while having a negative impact on the perceptions among white people and men. Ultimately, Diversifying the Courts provides insight into the impact of gender, race, and ethnicity on the courts, illuminating some of the major challenges facing the American judicial system in the years that lie ahead.Trade Review"Diversifying the Courts systematically examines the link between racial and gender diversity and the legitimacy of the federal judiciary. Nancy Scherer shows us that increased diversity does not automatically yield greater legitimacy toward the federal bench among all members of the public, resulting in a backlash against the courts." -- Eric Waltenburg, author of Choosing Where to Fight: Organized Labor and the Modern Regulatory State, 1948-1987"This book shows us why efforts to diversify the federal bench over the past four decades have done little to increase the legitimacy of the courts. Scherer compellingly explores this diversity dilemma, offering important insights about the future of our courts." -- Michael Zilis, author of The Rights Paradox: How Group Attitudes Shape US Supreme Court Legitimacy"[Scherer] shares takeaways from conversations with sitting district court justices and the empirical results of surveys on support for the courts and specific judges’ decisions given varying conditions of diversity." * Trial *
£21.59
New York University Press The Race Whisperer
Book SynopsisNearly a week after George Zimmerman was found not guilty of killing Trayvon Martin, President Obama walked into the press briefing room and shocked observers by saying that Trayvon could have been me. He talked personally and poignantly about his experiences and pointed to intra-racial violence as equally serious and precarious for black boys. He offered no sweeping policy changes or legislative agendas; he saw them as futile. Instead, he suggested that prejudice would be eliminated through collective efforts to help black males and for everyone to reflect on their own prejudices. Obama's presidency provides a unique opportunity to engage in a discussion about race and politics. In The Race Whisperer, Melanye Price analyzes the manner in which Barack Obama uses race strategically to engage with and win the loyalty of potential supporters. This book uses examples from Obama's campaigns and presidency to demonstrate his ability to authentically tap into notions of blackness and whiteneTrade Review"In this book, Melanye Price masterfully explores the many ways in which the first black president, Barack Obama, navigated the complexities of racenot only as a politician but also as a candidate. The books success lies in Prices ability to peel back the layers of racial significance within President Obamas rhetorical approaches[Prices] work is extremely impressive." * Critical Dialogues *"Price has written a wonderfully rich treatment of President Barack Obamas rhetoric and his usages of race. It is a highly critical, yet restrained analysis of his presidency. This book invites readers to think closely about how politicians, especially African American politicians, use race in American national politics. More importantly, it serves as guidebook for African American voters and how they might assess the use of race in political rhetoric and discourse." -- Randal Maurice Jelks,author of Benjamin Elijah Mays, Schoolmaster of The Movement: A Biography"With The Race Whisperer Melanye Price has helped decode one of the most enigmatic and complex dynamics of the Obama Presidency." -- W. Jelani Cobb,author of The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress"[Price's] analysis shines new light on the price paid for black silence. If Obama is the model for black politicians going forward, how can they deliver more than symbolic benefit to black voters?" * The Historian *
£22.79
New York University Press The Presidents and the Constitution Volume Two
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis book is excellent for collections on American politics, the Constitution, and the presidency. -- CHOICE * CHOICE *
£16.14
New York University Press The Presidents and the Constitution Volume Two
Book SynopsisA revealing look at the constitutional issues that confronted and shaped each presidency from Woodrow Wilson through Donald J. TrumpDrawing from the monumental publication The Presidents and the Constitution: A Living History in 2016, the nation's foremost experts in the American presidency and the US Constitution tell the intertwined stories of how the last eighteen American presidents have interfaced with the Constitution and thus defined the most powerful office in human history. This volume leads off with Woodrow Wilson, the president who led the nation through World War I, and ends with Donald J. Trump, who ushered the US into uncharted political and legal territory. In between, the country was confronted with international wars, the civil rights movement, 9/11, and the advent of the internet, all of which presented unique and pressing constitutional issues. The last one hundred years reveals the awesome powers of the American presidency in domestic and foreign affairs, illustraTrade Review"This book is excellent for collections on American politics, the Constitution, and the presidency." -- CHOICE * CHOICE *
£66.60
New York University Press The Law of Presidential Impeachment
Book SynopsisA clear and comprehensive overview of presidential impeachment from a leading expert in the fieldAs a result of Donald Trump's presidency, impeachment was once again thrust into the spotlight of American political discussion. However, its history goes back to the very founding of the nation, when American colonists, remembering their grievances against their former king, entrenched the process in their new Constitution.The Law of Presidential Impeachment breaks down both the law and politics of this process, providing a comprehensive, nonpartisan, and up-to-date explanation of the Constitution's various mechanisms for holding presidents accountable for their misdeeds. Based on a lifetime of scholarly research, as well as unique experience as a witness and consultant in the impeachment trials of Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, Michael J. Gerhardt's new book takes the reader back to the basics of presidential impeachments. Rather than provide reasons for or ag
£18.99
New York University Press The Wrongs of the Right
Book SynopsisExamines the coded language of the Republican PartyIn The Wrongs of the Right, Matthew W. Hughey and Gregory S. Parks set postracial claims into relief against a background of pre- and post-election racial animus directed at President Obama, his administration, and African Americans. They show how the political Right deploys racial fears, coded language and implicit bias to express and build opposition to the Obama administration. Racial meanings are reservoirs rich in political currency, and the race card remains a potent resource for othering the first black president in a context rife with Nativism, xenophobia, white racial fatigue, and serious racial inequality.Trade ReviewA valuable contribution in understanding the implications and interplay of race and politics in contemporary America. The presidency of Americas first African-American president is historic, with deep implications, and has taken some turns which reflect, not always well, on America dealing with its enduring issues of race. . . . Powerful and well done. -- John Dombrink,University of California, IrvineCovers very timely and important issues regarding racial and electoral politics in America. . . . Commentators and pundits whose job it is to make sense of contemporary politics and interested citizens will all want a book like this. It is scholarly and rigorous but very readable for a lay audience. In my mind, all books should try to attain this balance. -- Melanye Price,Rutgers UniversityThis exhaustive assessment of the political Rights exploitation of entrenched racial bias in the U.S. is essential reading for students and scholars of the presidency. The Wrongs of the Right blends convincing data with real world examples, and is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate courses. -- Caroline Heldman,Occidental CollegeHughey and Parks attempt to demonstrate that in a supposedly 'post-racial' society, our politics are permeated in both conscious and unconscious ways by the message that only whiteness equates to authentic Americanism . . . [I]t is hard to argue with most of what the authors have to say. * Library Journal *The book provides a succinct summary of the historic ebb and flow of racism in US politics. The authors reveal the use of race as a political incendiary by the two primary parties and clearly illustrate the use of the four premises, previously mentioned, as they relate to the discourse surrounding President Obamas campaign, election, and tenure.Summing Up: Highly Recommended. * Choice *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. The Grand Old Party and African Americans: A Brief Historical Overview2. Unsweet Tea and Labor Pains: The Tea Party, Birthers, and Obama3. A Fox in the Idiot Box: Right-Wing Talking Heads4. Political Party, Campaign Strategy, and Racial Messaging5. The Social Science of Political Ideology and Racial Attitudes6. Unconscious Race Bias and the Right: Its Meaning for Law in the Age of ObamaConclusionNotesIndexAbout the Authors
£19.94
New York University Press ReImagining Black Women
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE W.E.B. DUBOIS DISTINGUISHED BOOK AWARD, GIVEN BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK POLITICAL SCIENTISTSA wide-ranging Black feminist interrogation, reaching from the #MeToo movement to the legacy of gender-based violence against Black womenFrom Michelle Obama to Condoleezza Rice, Black women are uniquely scrutinized in the public eye. In Re-Imagining Black Women, Nikol G. Alexander-Floyd explores how Black womenand Blackness more broadlyare understood in our political imagination and often become the subjects of public controversy. Drawing on politics, popular culture, psychoanalysis, and more, Alexander-Floyd examines our conflicting ideas, opinions, and narratives about Black women, showing how they are equally revered and reviled as an embodiment of good and evil, cast either as victims or villains, citizens or outsiders. Ultimately, Alexander-Floyd showcases the complex experiences of Black women as political subjects. At a time of extreme racial tension, Re-Imagining Trade Review"Alexander-Floyd has written a provocative, hard-hitting analysis of Black political matters, ranging from Condolezza Rice, to Barack Obama to Bill Cosby to R. Kelly. Bold and controversial, Re-Imagining Black Women is a must-read for scholars attempting to navigate the complex political and cultural terrain of U.S. history over the past two decades." -- Beverly Guy-Sheftall, co-author of Gender Talk: The Struggle for Women's Equality in African American Communities"An insightful and necessary intervention into post-politics: its origins, its intersections, and its fictive construction by the state and popular media." -- Paula J. Giddings, author of Ida: A Sword Among Lions"Drawing on political science, women and gender studies, media studies, and psychoanalysis, the author critiques an array of subjects, from Condoleezza Rice to Barack Obama, the fictional Madea, and #MeToo. This would be excellent for a senior seminar or even graduate courses." * Choice *
£21.59
New York University Press The Race Whisperer
Book SynopsisNearly a week after George Zimmerman was found not guilty of killing Trayvon Martin, President Obama walked into the press briefing room and shocked observers by saying that Trayvon could have been me. He talked personally and poignantly about his experiences and pointed to intra-racial violence as equally serious and precarious for black boys. He offered no sweeping policy changes or legislative agendas; he saw them as futile. Instead, he suggested that prejudice would be eliminated through collective efforts to help black males and for everyone to reflect on their own prejudices. Obama's presidency provides a unique opportunity to engage in a discussion about race and politics. In The Race Whisperer, Melanye Price analyzes the manner in which Barack Obama uses race strategically to engage with and win the loyalty of potential supporters. This book uses examples from Obama's campaigns and presidency to demonstrate his ability to authentically tap into notions of blackness and whiteneTrade ReviewIn this book, Melanye Price masterfully explores the many ways in which the first black president, Barack Obama, navigated the complexities of racenot only as a politician but also as a candidate. The books success lies in Prices ability to peel back the layers of racial significance within President Obamas rhetorical approaches[Prices] work is extremely impressive. * Critical Dialogues *Price has written a wonderfully rich treatment of President Barack Obamas rhetoric and his usages of race. It is a highly critical, yet restrained analysis of his presidency. This book invites readers to think closely about how politicians, especially African American politicians, use race in American national politics. More importantly, it serves as guidebook for African American voters and how they might assess the use of race in political rhetoric and discourse. -- Randal Maurice Jelks,author of Benjamin Elijah Mays, Schoolmaster of The Movement: A BiographyWith The Race Whisperer Melanye Price has helped decode one of the most enigmatic and complex dynamics of the Obama Presidency. -- W. Jelani Cobb,author of The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress[Price's] analysis shines new light on the price paid for black silence. If Obama is the model for black politicians going forward, how can they deliver more than symbolic benefit to black voters? * The Historian *
£66.60
New York University Press ReImagining Black Women
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE W.E.B. DUBOIS DISTINGUISHED BOOK AWARD, GIVEN BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK POLITICAL SCIENTISTSA wide-ranging Black feminist interrogation, reaching from the #MeToo movement to the legacy of gender-based violence against Black womenFrom Michelle Obama to Condoleezza Rice, Black women are uniquely scrutinized in the public eye. In Re-Imagining Black Women, Nikol G. Alexander-Floyd explores how Black womenand Blackness more broadlyare understood in our political imagination and often become the subjects of public controversy. Drawing on politics, popular culture, psychoanalysis, and more, Alexander-Floyd examines our conflicting ideas, opinions, and narratives about Black women, showing how they are equally revered and reviled as an embodiment of good and evil, cast either as victims or villains, citizens or outsiders. Ultimately, Alexander-Floyd showcases the complex experiences of Black women as political subjects. At a time of extreme racial tension, Re-Imagining Trade Review"Alexander-Floyd has written a provocative, hard-hitting analysis of Black political matters, ranging from Condolezza Rice, to Barack Obama to Bill Cosby to R. Kelly. Bold and controversial, Re-Imagining Black Women is a must-read for scholars attempting to navigate the complex political and cultural terrain of U.S. history over the past two decades." -- Beverly Guy-Sheftall, co-author of Gender Talk: The Struggle for Women's Equality in African American Communities"An insightful and necessary intervention into post-politics: its origins, its intersections, and its fictive construction by the state and popular media." -- Paula J. Giddings, author of Ida: A Sword Among Lions"Drawing on political science, women and gender studies, media studies, and psychoanalysis, the author critiques an array of subjects, from Condoleezza Rice to Barack Obama, the fictional Madea, and #MeToo. This would be excellent for a senior seminar or even graduate courses." * Choice *
£66.60
House of Anansi Press Ltd ,Canada Is American Democracy in Crisis
Book SynopsisThe twenty-first semi-annual Munk Debate pits award-winning journalist E. J. Dionne, Jr. and influential author and blogger Andrew Sullivan against former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and bestselling author and editor Kimberley Strassel to debate the current crisis of American democracy.Our country is now as close to crossing the line from democracy to autocracy as it has been in our lifetimes. E. J. Dionne, Jr.It is the public debate of the moment: is Donald Trump precipitating a crisis of American democracy? For some the answer is an emphatic yes. Trump's disregard for the institutions and political norms of U.S. democracy is imperiling the Republic. The sooner his presidency collapses the sooner the healing can begin and the ship of state righted. For others Trump is not the villain in this drama. Rather, his young presidency is the conduit, not the cause, of Americans' deep-seated anger toward
£10.44
University of Toronto Press Sources of Knowledge and Entrepreneurial Behavior
Book SynopsisSources of Knowledge and Entrepreneurial Behavior delves into the nature and importance of the relationship between sources of knowledge and entrepreneurial behavior, and should be of interest to both academics and policy-makers. David B. Audretsch and Albert N. Link use the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship as the conceptual foundation for why individuals decide to become entrepreneurs. Then, using a database of more than 4,000 small and relatively new European companies from 10 different countries, called the AEGIS database, Audretsch and Link offer new insights about the relationship between knowledge sources and entrepreneurial behavior. In their analysis of the empirical evidence in support of the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship, Audretsch and Link conclude that there is no singular source of knowledge driving entrepreneurship, but a plethora of knowledge sources, each associated with different dimensions of entrepreneurial actiTable of ContentsList of Figures and Tables Foreword 1 Introduction 2 The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship 3 The AEGIS Database 4 The Experience Base of Firms 5 Sources of Knowledge 6 Sources of Knowledge and Entrepreneurial Behavior 7 Lessons Learned Notes References Index
£38.25
University of Toronto Press Comparing Political Regimes
Book SynopsisThis book offers a comprehensive outline of the world's political systems and regimes, classifying all 195 sovereign countries.Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgments 1. Introducing Comparative Politics 2. Development and Political Development 3. State Effectiveness and Political Economy 4. Electoral Democracies, Liberal Democracies, and Autocracies 5. Factors Conducive to Democracy 6. Institutional Variations of Democracies 7. Electoral Systems, Party Systems, and Government Formation in Democracies 8. Varieties of Autocracies: Totalitarianism, Sultanism, and Authoritarianism 9. Democratic Transitions, Consolidations, and Breakdowns 10. The Historical Evolution of Democracy Glossary Recommended Sources for Further Research Bibliography Index
£69.70
University of Toronto Press Democracy and Constitutions
Book SynopsisBold and unconventional, this book advocates for an institutional turn-about in the relationship between democracy and constitutionalism.Table of Contents1. Democracy and Constitutions: A Fresh Beginning 2. A Constitutionalist State of Mind: A Deeper Look 3. Constitutional Origins: Undemocratic Beginnings? 4. A Higher Justice: Some Fundamental Problems 5. Making Changes: Constitutional Updates 6. Striving for Democracy: An Endless Journey 7. Towards ‘Democratic’ Courts: A Salvage Operation 8. A Time for Change: Democratic Constitutions 9. Beyond Courts: Toward Democratic Institutions 10. Laughing and Remembering: Putting Democracy First
£49.30
University of Toronto Press Democracy and Constitutions
Book SynopsisAs things stand, a commitment to weak democracy and strong constitutionalism ensures that a range of elite groups, actors, and institutions political, economic, intellectual, and legal hold considerable sway over constitutional matters, leaving less room for the participation of ordinary people. With the continued primacy of liberal constitutionalism, constitutional law has come to represent and facilitate the centrality of judicial power and authority. In Democracy and Constitutions, Allan C. Hutchinson warns against this deference to a legal elite on questions of constitutional meaning. For Hutchinson, an over-reliance on constitutional law, and a lack of attention to democratic politics, keeps people from influencing the moral and political character of society; it saps civic energies and relegates ordinary people to the sidelines. Engaging and provocative, Democracy and Constitutions charts a course away from the elitism of the present and toward a more deTable of Contents1. Democracy and Constitutions: A Fresh Beginning 2. A Constitutionalist State of Mind: A Deeper Look 3. Constitutional Origins: Undemocratic Beginnings? 4. A Higher Justice: Some Fundamental Problems 5. Making Changes: Constitutional Updates 6. Striving for Democracy: An Endless Journey 7. Towards ‘Democratic’ Courts: A Salvage Operation 8. A Time for Change: Democratic Constitutions 9. Beyond Courts: Toward Democratic Institutions 10. Laughing and Remembering: Putting Democracy First
£17.09
University of Toronto Press Framing Borders
Book SynopsisFraming Borders is the first book-length ethnography looking at interactions between border officers and Indigenous cross-border travellers in North America.Trade Review"This is a thought-provoking study. Though most scholarly attention to borderlands dynamics focuses on the conflicts inherent in such crossings, Kalman’s work reveals the far more nuanced nature of these interactions, predicated on the ways in which the various actors frame themselves in these often banal contacts. Ultimately, he shows, the diverse nature of these interactions—ranging from tense confrontational hassles to joking camaraderie—reveals ‘just how far into everyday life settler colonialism penetrates’ (p. 201). Kalman’s exposure and analysis of these micro-level ripple effects of macro-level historical developments make this a valuable contribution to an evolving body of scholarship." -- M. R. Scherer, University of Nebraska-Omaha * CHOICE *"What if North America’s borders only exist in the context of the conversations we have with customs officers and port authorities? We rarely know when we have crossed the invisible line itself, but we do know when the conversation with the border services officer has ended and we are free to keep moving. That is, ‘crossing a border is often more a matter of which side of a conversation you find yourself on than which side of a line.’ This provocative insight is at the heart of anthropologist Ian Kalman’s excellent book Framing Borders." -- Sheila McManus, University of Lethbridge * Canadian Journal of History *Table of ContentsPrologue 1. Introduction 2. Welcome to Akwesasne 3. Doing History in Akwesasne 4. The Changing Face of the Cornwall/Akwesasne Border 5. Reporting-in to/from Akwesasne 6. Processing 7. Talking Borders Conclusion
£38.25
University of Toronto Press Immigration and the Politics of Welfare Exclusion
Book SynopsisWhy do some governments try to limit immigrants’ access to social benefits and entitlements while others do not? Through an in-depth study of Sweden, Canada, and the Netherlands, Immigration and the Politics of Welfare Exclusion maps the politics of immigrants’ social rights in Western democracies. To achieve this goal, Edward A. Koning analyzes policy documents, public opinion surveys, data on welfare use, parliamentary debates, and interviews with politicians and key players in the three countries. Koning’s findings are three-fold. First, the politics of immigrant welfare exclusion have little to do with economic factors and are more about general opposition to immigration and multiculturalism. Second, proposals for exclusion are particularly likely to arise in a political climate that incentivizes politicians to appear tough on immigration. Finally, the success of anti-immigrant politicians in bringing about exclusionary reforms depends on the rTrade Review"Economic rationales do not support excluding immigrants from social benefits and services, argues Edward A. Koning in this compelling comparative study. Instead, politics and political logics explain why some countries go much further than others in reducing or eliminating immigrants’ access to social rights." -- Willem Maas, York University * Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies *Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations Introduction 1. Theorizing Immigrant-Excluding Welfare Reforms The Progressive’s Dilemma: Immigration versus the Welfare State? Immigrant-Excluding Welfare Reforms (and Their Alternatives) The Political Translation of Economic Facts Forces of Continuity: Institutionalizing Immigrants’ Social Rights Forces of Change: Contesting Immigrants’ Social Rights 2. The Limits of Economic Explanations Immigrant Welfare Use and Public Opinion Immigrant Welfare Use and Support for Welfare Exclusion in Three Countries 3. Sweden: Universalism, Even for Newcomers? A Story of Gradual Inclusion Framing Welfare Dependence as Utanförskap Anti-Migrant Politics in the Margins, but for How Long? 4. Canada: Stability in a Country of Immigrants Continuation of the Canadian Model of Immigration and Welfare Faulty Admission and ‘Bogus’ Claimants: Framing Immigrants’ Welfare Dependence Political Battles at the Margins of the Canadian Model 5. The Netherlands: The Sudden Surge of Selective Solidarity A Recent History of Immigrant-Excluding Welfare Reforms From Taboo to Cliché: Increasing Concerns about Immigrants’ Welfare Reliance Reaching the Boundaries of Exclusion Conclusions Appendix Tables List of Interviews Works Cited Endnotes
£28.80
University of Toronto Press Stand on Guard
Book SynopsisIn Stand on Guard, Stephanie Carvin sets out to explain the range of activities considered national security threats by Canadian security services today. As new forms of terrorism and extremism appear, especially online, we need a responsibly widened view of such threats and how they manifest in the contemporary world. Canadians should not be more fearful, Carvin explains, but a more sophisticated understanding among security services personnel and the general public is needed if we are to anticipate and ameliorate threats to national security.As a former security analyst tasked with providing threat assessments to high levels of government, Carvin writes with both authority and urgency. Her book presents an insider’s look at the issues facing the Canadian security and intelligence community. Timely and accessible, Stand on Guard will be required reading for scholars, practitioners, and any Canadian concerned about national security in the twenty-first ceTrade Review“Carvin’s book is more than a reminder that the world is not always a friendly place. It is also a plea. It asks that citizens — and, by extension, our elected officials and the security and intelligence services they oversee — take Canada’s national security more seriously than we have of late. ‘Canada finds itself in the most complex threat environment since the Second World War,’ Carvin writes. ‘Global leadership appears to be in flux, and the international order that defends the rules and norms under which Canada has prospered are no longer guaranteed.’ Her point isn’t to scare us but to remind us of our democratic responsibilities.” -- Dan Dunsky * Open Canada *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Violent Extremism – the Canadian Context 2. Violent Extremist Threats in Canada Today 3. Espionage 4. The Economy and National Security 5. Cyber Security 6. Clandestine Foreign Influence 7. Disinformation and Threats to Democratic Institutions Conclusion Appendix
£23.39
University of Toronto Press Comparing Political Regimes
Book SynopsisThis book offers a comprehensive outline of the world's political systems and regimes, classifying all 195 sovereign countries.Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgments 1. Introducing Comparative Politics 2. Development and Political Development 3. State Effectiveness and Political Economy 4. Electoral Democracies, Liberal Democracies, and Autocracies 5. Factors Conducive to Democracy 6. Institutional Variations of Democracies 7. Electoral Systems, Party Systems, and Government Formation in Democracies 8. Varieties of Autocracies: Totalitarianism, Sultanism, and Authoritarianism 9. Democratic Transitions, Consolidations, and Breakdowns 10. The Historical Evolution of Democracy Glossary Recommended Sources for Further Research Bibliography Index
£36.90
University of Toronto Press The Canadian Regime
Book SynopsisUsing a traditional historical-institutional approach, The Canadian Regime introduces students to the idea of the regime, which is a lens through which they can see how institutions interact with the basic principles of the political order. The authors explain how the Canadian liberal democratic regime was founded on the fundamental principles of liberty, equality, and consent and discuss the ways in which Canada’s institutions have developed and operate in accordance with these principles. The authors also examine how the regime has at times failed to follow these principles, particularly with respect to Canada’s Indigenous peoples in Canada, and how reforms to Canada’s governing institutions challenge historical assumptions concerning parliamentary government and federalism. Now in its seventh edition, The Canadian Regime continues to provide the most accessible introduction to Canadian politics, making Canada’s unique government anTable of ContentsPart One: Introduction 1. Canada's Regime Principles 2. The Constitution Part Two: A Constitution Similar in Principle to That of the United Kingdom 3. Responsible Government 4. The Crown and Its Servants 5. Parliament 6. Elections 7. Political Parties Part Three: A Constitution Similar in Principle to that of the United States 8. Federalism 9. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 10. The Judiciary Conclusion
£35.10
University of Toronto Press A History of Political Thought Property Labor
Book SynopsisA History of Political Thought analyses market society by surveying the ideas of its most perceptive, thought-provoking observers critics and defenders from ancient Greece to the present day.Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations Introduction 1. “The Less They Value Virtue”: Plato, Aristotle, and Aquinas on the Corrupting Influence of Moneymaking – Personal and Political 2. “The Felicity of This Life”: Machiavelli and Hobbes on the Possibility of Delightful Living 3. “The Desire of Having More”: Locke on Labor and the Right to Accumulate without Limit 4. “A Course Intended by Nature”: Smith and Kant on the Overwhelming Benefits of Commerce – Domestic and International 5. “Make Money Contemptible and, If Possible, Useless”: Rousseau on Modern Discontent 6. “The Reason Which Shines Through”: Hegel on the Ethical Dimensions of the Market 7. “Free, Conscious Activity”: Marx on Alienation and the Path to Human Emancipation 8. “A Dozen Wise Men”: Lenin on the Revolutionary Vanguard 9. “The Function of Industry”: Tawney on the Demands of Equality and the Need for Democracy 10. “Reflection, Brooding, Worry, Love, and Hatred”: Nietzsche on a Higher Concept of Culture 11. “The Nobler Exercise of the Faculties”: Keynes on the Art of Enjoyment 12. “A Narrow Field of Vision”: Hayek on the Limits of Knowledge 13. “The Curse of Money”: Rawls on Plutocracy and the Demands of Economic Justice 14. “An Endless Spiral”: Piketty on the Dynamics of Wealth and Income Inequality in the Twenty-First Century Afterword Notes Bibliography Index
£31.50
University of Toronto Press Framing Borders
Book SynopsisFraming Borders addresses a fundamental disjuncture between scholastic portrayals of settler colonialism and what actually takes place in Akwesasne Territory, the largest Indigenous cross-border community in Canada. Whereas most existing portrayals of Indigenous nationalism emphasize border crossing as a site of conflict between officers and Indigenous nationalists, in this book Ian Kalman observes a much more diverse range of interactions, from conflict to banality to joking and camaraderie. Framing Borders explores how border crossing represents a conversation where different actors frame themselves, the law, and the space that they occupy in diverse ways. Written in accessible, lively prose, Kalman addresses what goes on when border officers and Akwesasne residents meet, and what these exchanges tell us about the relationship between Indigenous actors and public servants in Canada. This book provides an ethnographic examination of the experiences of thTrade Review"This is a thought-provoking study. Though most scholarly attention to borderlands dynamics focuses on the conflicts inherent in such crossings, Kalman’s work reveals the far more nuanced nature of these interactions, predicated on the ways in which the various actors frame themselves in these often banal contacts. Ultimately, he shows, the diverse nature of these interactions—ranging from tense confrontational hassles to joking camaraderie—reveals ‘just how far into everyday life settler colonialism penetrates’ (p. 201). Kalman’s exposure and analysis of these micro-level ripple effects of macro-level historical developments make this a valuable contribution to an evolving body of scholarship." -- M. R. Scherer, University of Nebraska-Omaha * CHOICE *"What if North America’s borders only exist in the context of the conversations we have with customs officers and port authorities? We rarely know when we have crossed the invisible line itself, but we do know when the conversation with the border services officer has ended and we are free to keep moving. That is, ‘crossing a border is often more a matter of which side of a conversation you find yourself on than which side of a line.’ This provocative insight is at the heart of anthropologist Ian Kalman’s excellent book Framing Borders." -- Sheila McManus, University of Lethbridge * Canadian Journal of History *Table of ContentsPrologue 1. Introduction 2. Welcome to Akwesasne 3. Doing History in Akwesasne 4. The Changing Face of the Cornwall/Akwesasne Border 5. Reporting-in to/from Akwesasne 6. Processing 7. Talking Borders Conclusion
£17.09
University of Toronto Press What Is Democracy and How Do We Study It
Book SynopsisThere are many different ways to do political science research. This book takes a core question that motivates research in political science what is democracy? and presents, in a single volume, original research demonstrating a variety of approaches to studying it. The approaches and related methods covered by the chapters in this book include normative political theory, positivist quantitative analysis, behaviouralism, critical theory, post-structuralism, historical institutionalism, process tracing, case studies, and literature reviews. Readers are confronted with the different assumptions that researchers make when entering the research process and can compare and contrast the many different ways that a single question can be studied . This book will be enlightening for students of democracy as well as those interested in research design and methodological approaches.Table of Contents1. Approaching the Study of Democracy Cameron D. Anderson, Western University and Laura B. Stephenson, Western University Part I – Democracy in Theory: Normative Approaches 2. Democracy: What and Why Charles Jones, Western University 3. Is Majority Rule Democratic? Richard Vernon, Western University Part II – Analyzing Democracy: Positivist Approaches 4. Evaluating a Democracy: Are Citizens Engaged? Cameron D. Anderson, Western University and Laura B. Stephenson, Western University 5. Conceptualizing and Measuring Democracy David Armstrong, Western University 6. A Democratic Continuum? Bruce Morrison, Western University 7. Membership Rules for Democratic Communities: Canada and the United States Andrew Sancton, Western University and Christopher Alcantara, Western University 8. Representation and the Practice of Politics Rob Leone, Western University and Josh Morgan, City Councilor, London, Ontario 9. The Democratic Dimensions of Specialized Governments Joseph Lyons, Western University Part III – Interpreting Democracy: Critical and Post-modern Approaches 10. Hatred of Democracy Dan Bousfield, Western University 11. Rethinking Democracy Nandita Biswas Mellamphy, Western University
£22.49
University of Toronto Press What Is Democracy and How Do We Study It
Book SynopsisThere are many different ways to do political science research. This book takes a core question that motivates research in political science what is democracy? and presents, in a single volume, original research demonstrating a variety of approaches to studying it. The approaches and related methods covered by the chapters in this book include normative political theory, positivist quantitative analysis, behaviouralism, critical theory, post-structuralism, historical institutionalism, process tracing, case studies, and literature reviews. Readers are confronted with the different assumptions that researchers make when entering the research process and can compare and contrast the many different ways that a single question can be studied . This book will be enlightening for students of democracy as well as those interested in research design and methodological approaches.Table of Contents1. Approaching the Study of Democracy Cameron D. Anderson, Western University and Laura B. Stephenson, Western University Part I – Democracy in Theory: Normative Approaches 2. Democracy: What and Why Charles Jones, Western University 3. Is Majority Rule Democratic? Richard Vernon, Western University Part II – Analyzing Democracy: Positivist Approaches 4. Evaluating a Democracy: Are Citizens Engaged? Cameron D. Anderson, Western University and Laura B. Stephenson, Western University 5. Conceptualizing and Measuring Democracy David Armstrong, Western University 6. A Democratic Continuum? Bruce Morrison, Western University 7. Membership Rules for Democratic Communities: Canada and the United States Andrew Sancton, Western University and Christopher Alcantara, Western University 8. Representation and the Practice of Politics Rob Leone, Western University and Josh Morgan, City Councilor, London, Ontario 9. The Democratic Dimensions of Specialized Governments Joseph Lyons, Western University Part III – Interpreting Democracy: Critical and Post-modern Approaches 10. Hatred of Democracy Dan Bousfield, Western University 11. Rethinking Democracy Nandita Biswas Mellamphy, Western University
£46.75
iUniverse Skin in the Game
£17.95
Rowman & Littlefield Nixons Gamble
Book SynopsisAfter being sworn in as president, Richard Nixon told the assembled crowd that government will listen. ... Those who have been left out, we will try to bring in. But that same day, he obliterated those pledges of greater citizen control of government by signing National Security Decision Memorandum 2, a document that made sweeping changes to the national security power structure. Nixon's signature erased the influence that the departments of State and Defense, as well as the CIA, had over Vietnam and the course of the Cold War. The new structure put Nixon at the center, surrounded by loyal aides and a new national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, who coordinated policy through the National Security Council under Nixon's command. Using years of research and revelations from newly released documents, USA Today reporter Ray Locker upends much of the conventional wisdom about the Nixon administration and its impact and shows how the creation of this secret, unprecedented, extra-constitutTrade Review"The story we only thought we knew. Ray Locker gives us back our lost perspective on Richard Nixon and the governance we inherited from his tragedy. This courageous, graceful book is a major achievement and lasting public service.”--Roger Morris, author of Richard Milhous Nixon: The Rise of an American Politician“Richard Nixon accomplished a great deal--opening up China, arms control with Russia, ending the Vietnam War--but he did this, in no small measure, by deceit. In a tour de force of historical research, Ray Locker reveals a mind-boggling web of lies and half-truths. A gripping read and an important book.”--Evan Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Being Nixon: A Man Divided and Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Battle to Save the World“Ray Locker has assembled a masterful study that asks a question no one else has – was the Nixon White House flawed by design? A deep dive of government documents and primary sources, Locker examines the very foundations of the Nixon administration and finds something very troubling. A must read for anyone wanting a better understanding of the time period.”--Luke A. Nichter, co-author of New York Times bestselling series The Nixon Tapes: 1971-1972 and The Nixon Tapes: 1973Even more impressive, that’s not the most important part of this richly illuminating history of Richard Nixon’s many layered attempt to govern by secret. In uncovering the huge hidden wager that Nixon took, playing for his place in world history and going all in with nothing less than the presidency itself, Ray Locker shows us Nixon’s hole cards and how badly he misplayed them. We’re all still trying to recoup the loss.”--Ed Gray, co-author with his father L. Patrick Gray III of In Nixon’s Web: A Year in the Crosshairs of Watergate"’Why did he do it?’ has long been one of the great questions of the Nixon presidency. Ray Locker provides a set of fascinating new answers, based on dogged investigative research and a keen instinct for making sense of Richard Nixon's strange secret world.”—Beverly Gage, professor of American history at Yale University“Ray Locker establishes Nixon gambled to achieve foreign policy achievements and lasting structural government changes only ultimately to be brought down by his secret modus operandi. He also convincingly documents that John Dean, Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, and the FBI’s top intelligence officer William C. Sullivan aided in Nixon’s demise with the duplicitous roles they played by giving misleading information to the press and Congress.”--Joan Hoff, author of Nixon ReconsideredRichard Nixon (1913–94) remains a fascinating subject for historians of all stripes. Locker, an investigative reporter for USA Today, applies his ample research skills to exploring Nixon’s penchant for secrecy and deception during his six years as president. The focus centers on Nixon’s three primary foreign policy goals: ending the Vietnam War, restoring diplomatic relations with China, and reducing Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union. In order to accomplish these disparate objectives, Locker maintains, Nixon created a complex secretive network so extensive that even his closest advisors, such as Henry Kissinger, didn’t know the whole truth behind his actions. The author utilizes a wide range of primary and secondary resources to spin his tale, and at times the facts are indeed stranger than fiction as he lists the consequences of the National Security Decision Memoranda and concludes that Nixon’s 'climate of secrecy' continues to impact politics today. VERDICT A well-told, detailed account that will satisfy even the most dedicated Nixon scholar. * Library Journal *“Ray Locker manages to deliver a book about Nixon and Watergate that seems remarkably fresh. Locker, whose research is prodigious and writing sublime, provides a page turner that gives important new insights into why Nixon made the critical decisions that brought down his presidency. "Nixon's Gamble" is a persuasive and absorbing addition to the best books about the most complex modern President.”--Gerald Posner, author of God’s Bankers and Case ClosedLocker, a USA Today investigative reporter focusing on the politics and Congress, reconstructs the rise and fall of Richard Nixon. His well-constructed thesis is that Nixon believed the entrenched, self-interested forces of Washington--the national press corps, Congress, and the CIA, FBI, and Pentagon--were making it impossible for him to achieve his goals: reaching an arms agreement with the Soviets, establishing a detente with China, and ending the Vietnam War. Determined to succeed at any cost, Nixon stealthily created a shadow government adept at secret foreign policy initiatives. According to Locker, Nixon's commitment to secrecy generated a culture of domestic spying, fostering the infamous break-ins, until 'cover-up beget cover-up' and led to Nixon's demise. Locker describes Nixon's machinations in minute detail, and readers. . . .will marvel at Nixon's drive, paranoia, duplicity, and accomplishments. . . .In Locker's view, Nixon's successes place him high in the pantheon of effective presidents, but his perfidy makes an equally compelling narrative of failure. * Publishers Weekly *“Fascinating… Locker’s book is more than just gripping political narrative; it is a critical examination of one of the most pivotal and flawed leaders in modern American history, one whose story still reverberates today almost a half-century later.”—James Scott, The Post and Courier, CharlestonLocker’s book is more than just gripping political narrative: it is a critical examination of one of the most pivotal and flawed leaders in modern American history, one whose story still reverberates today almost a half-century later. * The Post and Courier *“For book authors, Richard Nixon is a former U.S. president who just keeps on giving. Every time I believe nothing new is left to be written about Nixon's demise, another professional historian or another skilled journalist surprises me. Ray Locker, a Washington correspondent for USA Today, is one of those skilled journalists. His sophisticated theory about how Nixon's instincts for secrecy sabotaged some admirable foreign policy initiatives got me thinking along new pathways.” --Steve Weinberg, author of Armand Hammer and a forthcoming biography of Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau“Reads like a taught Washington thriller…thoroughly researched…dramatically engaging” * Tampa Bay Times *Table of ContentsTable of contents Part I Prologue Origins Nixon takes charge (1969) First moves (1969) The secret wiretaps (1969) The military’s harsh awakening (1969) Cooking intelligence with SALT (1969) The Cambodia sideshow (1970) Nixon’s war with the FBI (1970) Chile (1970) Laos and other crises (1971) China (1971) Pentagon Papers and FBI (1971) India-Pakistan (1971) Triumphs (1972) Watergate and early cover-up (1972) Part II, The Unraveling Early 1973 May 1973 The White House tapes Spy ring cover-up (1973-1974) Impeachment (1974) Part III, Ramifications Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index
£21.25
Rowman & Littlefield The Presidents War
Book SynopsisFor the first time, readers will experience America''s gravest crisis through the eyes of the five former presidents who lived it. Author and historian Chris DeRose chronicles history''s most epic Presidential Royal Rumble, which culminated in a multi-front effort against Lincoln''s reelection bid, but not before: * John Tyler engaged in shuttle diplomacy between President Buchanan and the new Confederate Government. He chaired the Peace Convention of 1861, the last great hope for a political resolution to the crisis. When it failed, Tyler joined the Virginia Secession Convention, voted to leave the Union, and won election to the Confederate Congress. * Van Buren, who had schemed to deny Lincoln the presidency, supported him in his efforts after Fort Sumter, and thwarted Franklin Pierce''s attempt at a meeting of the ex-Presidents to undermine Lincoln. * Millard Fillmore hosted Lincoln and Mary Todd on their way to Washington, initially supported the war effort, offered criTrade ReviewAt the time of Abraham Lincoln's election to president, five former presidents were still alive-an unprecedented and never-again achieved number. Derose provides a fresh look at the politics of the Civil War by focusing on the interactions between the eloquent and passionate Illinoisan and predecessors John Tyler, Franklin Pierce, Martin Van Buren, James Buchanan, and Millard Fillmore. He reveals the former presidents' opposition to Lincoln's presidency and many of his now-historic positions, such as the Emancipation Proclamation, and their constant fight against Lincoln's administration. Derose sets this thorough and fascinating history in a well-developed and rich foundation of the presidencies and politics leading up to Lincoln's two terms, and he concludes by pointing out the way Lincoln changed the presidency as his predecessors had feared: into a 'dynamic' and 'powerful force for principle,' which was for Lincoln the principle of freedom for all men. . . .[T]his book is a well-written, thorough, and engaging look into a unique political situation in American history. * Publishers Weekly *"When Abraham Lincoln became president in 1861, five former presidents were still alive—a fact unique in American history. In this discerning book, Chris DeRose shows that all of them had opposed Lincoln's election, none supported his determination to resupply Fort Sumter, John Tyler became a Confederate and Franklin Pierce a Copperhead, Martin Van Buren's and James Buchanan's support for the Union war effort was lukewarm, and the three men still alive in 1864 (including Millard Fillmore) opposed the Emancipation Proclamation and Lincoln's re-election. In effect, Lincoln presided over the preservation of the Union and abolition of slavery without the support of his predecessors in the presidency." —James M. McPherson, Civil War historian, multi-volume author, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era "No American president ever came to office facing a graver crisis--or a larger group of unpredictable predecessors--than Abraham Lincoln. There have been thousands of books about Lincoln and the Civil War, but this is the first to explore these subjects through the ongoing stories of the ex-presidents who remained active, influential, and occasionally treacherous as the Union sought to save itself. Chris DeRose is to be congratulated for finding an entirely new way to revisit the Civil War." —Harold Holzer, chairman, Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation "The Presidents' War sheds new light on a forgotten aspect of America's national tragedy, chronicling a neglected but highly significant array of chief executives." —David Pietrusza, historian and award-wining author of 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents "As Abraham Lincoln struggled to save the union during his presidency, his predecessors looked on with a skeptical and sometimes critical eye. They, too, had addressed the issues of slavery, sectional stresses, and national unity. Their solutions had not stood the test of time, yet they had little empathy for their successor. In a gripping, lively narrative informed by current scholarship, Chris DeRose tells the story of how former presidents Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, Milliard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan judged Lincoln and the war they had failed to prevent." —Brooks D. Simpson, Professor of History at Arizona State University and award-winning author of Ulysses S. Grant: Triumph over Adversity, 1822–1865 "If you think there is nothing new to say about the American Civil War, Chris DeRose, one of the most imaginative scholars of the period, will surprise you with this fresh look through the eyes, deeds, and words of the six American presidents living at the time shots were fired upon Fort Sumter. Exhaustively researched, elegantly written, DeRose's book offers discerning insights into the contributions and foibles of presidents you may have thought were familiar, but who in DeRose's skilled hands you discover you hardly knew. Superb history and a must-have addition to anyone's Civil War library!" —Scott Farris, author of Almost President: The Men Who Lost the Race but Changed the Nation and Kennedy and Reagan: Why Their Legacies Endure
£13.49
Rowman & Littlefield The Presidents First Year
Book SynopsisA fascinating new angle on presidential history, assessing the performances of the presidents in their freshman year of the toughest job in the world. Grouped by the issues the new presidents confronted in their first years in office, the book takes readers into the history, thought processes, and results on a case-by-case basis, including how the presidents' subsequent actions proved that they learned (or didn't learn) from their mistakes. From George Washington to Barack Obama, The President's First Year details the challenging first twelve months of all our presidents' tenures.Trade Review“Every contender says he or she is ready to be president on Day One, but history tells another story. As Americans select their next leader, how do we measure the capacity for future greatness? First year fumbles are part of the job. Some presidents are better for them (think JFK), while some never recover (think Hoover). The President’s First Year is an insightful primer on leadership. You may not agree with all of Douglas Cohn’s sharply drawn critiques of the men who have led us, but he will make you think as he views human flaws through the long lens of history.” —Eleanor Clift, political correspondent for The Daily Beast and panelist on The McLaughlin Group “This original and insightful historical analysis of each president’s first year brings a unique understanding of an inherent flaw in the system: none were prepared. I can attest to this, having had the honor of serving two presidents and observing them in the throes of that difficult freshman-year learning curve. This thoroughly researched and fully documented landmark book will alter the way we view the increasingly complex nature of our nation’s highest office and its unprepared aspirants.” —James R. Locher III, Assistant Secretary of Defense under Presidents George H. W. Bush and William J. Clinton “Harry Truman was at least honest about it: he was totally unprepared to be president. So have been all the others. With a sharp eye and a commanding grasp of presidential history, Douglas Cohn has given us reason to take a forgiving view of every president’s first year and of the fixable flaws in the system that elects them.” —Evan Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Being Nixon: A Man Divided and Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Battle to Save the World
£16.99
Rowman & Littlefield Our One Common Country
Book SynopsisOur One Common Country explores the most critical meeting of the Civil War. Given short shrift or overlooked by many historians, the Hampton Roads Conference of 1865 was a crucial turning point in the War between the States. In this well written and highly documented book, James B. Conroy describes in fascinating detail what happened when leaders from both sides came together to try to end the hostilities. The meeting was meant to end the fighting on peaceful terms. It failed, however, and the war dragged on for two more bloody, destructive months. Through meticulous research of both primary and secondary sources, Conroy tells the story of the doomed peace negotiations through the characters who lived it. With a fresh and immediate perspective, Our One Common Country offers a thrilling and eye-opening look into the inability of our nation''s leaders to find a peaceful solution. The failure of the Hamptons Roads Conference shaped the course of American history and the future of America'Trade ReviewA richly detailed, carefully analyzed, and well-written account of the Hampton Roads meeting...An excellent and long-needed addition to Civil War historiography. -- Michael B. Ballard, AuthorIn this massively researched, exceptionally well-written book, James Conroy has illuminated and set in its historical context an episode familiar and yet hitherto not closely examined. By carefully inserting vignettes of the actual fighters into the Big Picture, he gives his account an immediacy and human dimension rarely found in serious historical works. This is, moreover, a page-turner to be read for sheer pleasure. -- Hiller B. Zobel, AuthorConroy’s impressively thorough and engaging document details...the Hampton Roads Peace Conference, which has never before been the sole subject of a book...[It] illuminates the conflicting, passionate views on the Civil War...while giving fascinating insight into the war’s major players. * Publishers Weekly *A brilliant account of the doomed effort to end the Civil War through diplomacy. In this excellent debut, Boston-based attorney Conroy vividly captures the hope, weariness, despair and anger of the moment and the complexity of feelings on both sides. The author lays out this tragic and fascinating story in a style that is witty, acerbic and ironic. A splendid addition to any Civil War library. * Kirkus *Exhaustively researched and engagingly written, James Conroy’s account of the Hampton Roads Conference makes an important contribution to the field of Civil War studies. General readers will enjoy the memorable portraits of individuals and the convincing re-creation of popular emotions as the war ground toward its close. Scholars will have to take more seriously the abundant evidence of the priority that Lincoln gave to conciliating Southern whites, in order to gain their cooperation in Reconstruction. -- Paul D. Escott, Wake Forest University, Professor of History[A] sparkling account … An appealing cast of bullies and eccentrics populates every chapter … Conroy shows that it is possible to write exciting prose with scholarly integrity intact. -- Harold Holzer, co-chairman U.S. Lincoln Bicentennial Commission * Civil War History *Conroy is a terrific writer who tells the story of one of the war’s least known episodes, the Hampton Roads Peace Conference. But it is the way he describes the people around Lincoln, their interaction with him and each other that makes this such a good read. Great anecdotes—if you’re like me you’ll find yourself pausing every few pages and saying, ‘I never knew that’—my favorite kind of book! * CBS News *
£14.24
Rowman & Littlefield The RunnerUp Presidency The Elections That Defied
Book SynopsisTrade Review“A must read for those truly interested in our democracy.” -- Bill Bradley, former New Jersey senator“A fascinating look at our strange system of electing presidents.” -- Les Crystal, former president of NBC News and MacNeil/Lehrer Productions“A gripping and thoughtful book.” -- Wyche Fowler Jr., former U.S. senator from Georgia
£18.04
Globe Pequot Press Four Scores and Seven Reels Ago
Book SynopsisSince the early days of the movie industry, filmmakers have created visions of what the presidency of the United States is like. Several have been biographical studies of famous individuals who have served, such as Lincoln, Kennedy, and Nixon. Many movies have also displayed fictional presidents, in roles big and small, in dramatic tales that displayed them at their bestand sometimes even at their worst.Four Scores and Seven Reels Ago: The U.S. Presidency Through Hollywood, Real and Unreal examines the ways Hollywood has portrayed the presidency over the years. Pop culture expert Dale Sherman examines famous presidents and their movies, detailing historical information for each and how or if the filmmakers and artists came close to telling the real story. But let us not forget the many imagined examples of presidents that have appeared in movies and television, as well: presidents have battled aliens, fought monsters, and have even been caught on the wrong side of the law.
£21.25
