Comparative politics Books

Book SynopsisRightly fearing that unscrupulous rulers would break them up, seize their resources, or submit them to damaging forms of intervention, strong networks of trust such as kinship groups, clandestine religious sects, and trade diasporas have historically insulated themselves from political control by a variety of strategies. Drawing on a vast range of comparisons over time and space, Trust and Rule, first published in 2005, asks and answers how and with what consequences members of trust networks have evaded, compromised with, or even sought connections with political regimes. Since different forms of integration between trust networks produce authoritarian, theocratic, and democratic regimes, the book provides an essential background to the explanation of democratization and de-democratization.Trade Review'Charles Tilly is a prolific writer and an authority in modern historical sociology … Tilly's book does a good job of situating the dilemmas of trust and rule in a rich historical context.' Journal of Intervention and StatebuildingTable of Contents1. Relations of trust and distrust; 2. How and why trust networks work; 3. Transformations of trust networks; 4. Trust networks versus predators; 5. From segregation to integration; 6. Trust and democratization; 7. Future trust networks.

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Book SynopsisAhmed Rashid is a Pakistani journalist who reports for the BBC Online, The New York Times, The Financial Times, The New York Review of Books, Spain's El Mundo and newspapers in Pakistan. He broadcasts regularly with the BBC, CNN and other international news organisations. He has twice been selected for the list of 'Top 100 Global Thinkers' by Foreign Policy. He has been covering the wars in Afghanistan, as well as the wars in Pakistan and Tajikistan, since 1979. He is the author of Descent into Chaos and Jihad.Trade Review[Rashid is] Pakistan’s best and bravest reporter. -- Christopher Hitchens, Vanity FairA must read. -- Larry P. Goodson, New York Times[A] supremely insightful book about Afghanistan’s Taliban regime. . . . Rashid bases his account on detailed reporting and travel throughout Afghanistan and interviews with most of the Taliban’s elusive top leadership. As a narrative, it is gripping. . . . Rashid’s book is superbly reported, a window into a world that remains largely closed to American eyes. -- Shankar Vedantam, Philadelphia InquirerRashid’s densely detailed reportage portrays a country in ruins and the people who seek to control it. . . . Anyone contemplating new adventures in Afghanistan—whether to save its women from persecution, rescue the state from further fragmentation or save themselves from terrorist backlash—might first consult Rashid’s book. -- Paula R. Newberg, San Francisco ChronicleThe standard work in English on the Taliban. -- Christopher de Bellaigue, New York Review of Books[A] thorough, authoritative exegesis. -- Peter Bergen, Washington Post Book WorldThe author describes the insights he has gained, through personal experience of Afghanistan over the past decade, into the secretive and bizarre Taliban leadership. -- Richard Beeston, New StatesmanRead this remarkable book and the bewildering complexity of Afghan politics and the deadly over-spill of chaos, narcotics and sectarian violence into the surrounding region will become clear. -- Patrick Seale, Sunday TimesThe first credible account of the rise to power of the Taliban. -- Tariq Ali, New Left ReviewRashid has a feel for the characters in this imbroglio, who are as outlandish as any from the old Great Game. -- Rupert Edis, Sunday Telegraphthe book they are all reading. -- The Guardian[An] excellent study -- Financial TimesIt took our political classes an unconscionable time to wake up to the importance of Ahmed Rashid’s definitive study of the Taliban. The book has been a phenomenal success. -- The Independenta chilling and masterly study of the Taliban. -- Times Literary SupplementIt is the contention of Mr. Rashid’s very capable book on the Taliban that the outside world ignores Afghanistan at its peril -- James Buchan, Evening StandardAn excellent political and historical account of the movement’s rise to power. -- Katha Pollitt, The NationAhmed Rashid’s book describes the stuff that Bond [films] are made of. Warring tribes, clashing empires, fanatics with dreams of world domination, violence and sex. . If anyone understands the place Rashid does. -- Jason Burke, ObserverRashid tells a complicated story clearly. He places the rise of the Taliban in the context of the Afghan civil war, the energy polices of the Central Asian republics and the interests of American, Saudi and Pakistani intelligence services. -- Robin Banerji, Daily TelegraphThis is a riveting, balanced and well-informed book. -- International Herald TribuneIn this excellent, highly readable book, Ahmed Rashid succeeds in mixing detailed analysis not only with anecdote but also with a heartfelt sympathy for innocent peoples who for decades have been caught up in games of international rivalry and who appear fated to remain forever in a Hobbesian state of war. -- Roger Howard, SpectatorRashid has written the most thorough account of the Taliban to date, and has enclosed it within a history of Afghanistan relating back to the Great Game. -- Neil Quilliam, BRISMES NewsletterThanks to Ahmed Rashid’s analysis of the manoeuvrings of companies and governments, oil executives now have an up-to-date bible. and those interested in the new Turkic republics can get a sense of where these mysterious entities may be heading. -- Michael Church, Independent[Taliban] is said to have had a deep influence on Tony Blair’s current thinking. It has also become the focus of intensive diplomatic scrutiny as US policy makers scramble to formulate plans for a stable regime to succeed the Taliban. -- Timur Moon, Sunday ExpressThe most important book of the year. -- Bianca Jagger ‘A Good Read’, BBC Radio 4This is a fine book – erudite, concise, surefooted, packed with information and insightful, easy to read. -- Dilip Hiro, Middle East InternationalRequired reading not only for specialists, but for anyone who wishes to learn how the wider world contributed to the emergence of a parish regime from the wreckage of Afghans’ courageous struggle against the armed forces of the Soviet Union. -- William Maley, The World Today[A] valuable and informative work. -- Richard Bernstein, New York TimesAhmed Rashid is to be complimented for this factual, readable and thought provoking work. -- Asian NewsA fabulous piece of journalism. -- Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm and FireThe best book on the Taliban. -- L. Carl Brown, Foreign AffairsVirtually the only informed work on the men who, since 1994, have ruled almost all of Afghanistan. . . . [An] indispensable book. -- Steve Wasserman, Los Angeles Times Book ReviewTable of ContentsPreface and Introduction to the Third Edition Preface and Acknowledgements Maps Introduction: Afghanistan's Holy Warriors Part 1: History of the Taliban Movement Chapter 1 Kandahar 1994: The Origins of the Taliban Chapter 2 Herat 1995: God’s Invincible Soldiers Chapter 3 Kabul 1996: Commander of the Faithful Chapter 4 Mazar-e-Sharif 1997: Massacre in the North Chapter 5 Bamiyan 1998–99: The Never-Ending War Part 2: Islam and the Taliban Chapter 6 Challenging Islam: The New-Style Fundamentalism of the Taliban Chapter 7 Secret Society: The Taliban’s Political and Military Organization Chapter 8 A Vanished Gender: Women, Children and Taliban Culture Chapter 9 High on Heroin: Drugs and the Taliban Economy Chapter 10 Global Jihad: The Arab-Afghans and Osama Bin Laden Part 3: The New Great Game Chapter 11 Dictators and Oil Barons: The Taliban and Central Asia, Russia, Turkey and Israel Chapter 12 Romancing the Taliban 1: The Battle for Pipelines 1994–96 Chapter 13 Romancing the Taliban 2: The Battle for Pipelines 1997–99 – The USA and the Taliban Chapter 14 Master or Victim: Pakistan’s Afghan War Chapter 15 Shia Versus Sunni: Iran and Saudi Arabia Chapter 16 Conclusion: The Future of Afghanistan Chapter 17 The Taliban Resurgent 2000–2009 Appendices Notes

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Book SynopsisUnravels the real effects of the mainstream and alternative news media on British politics. Covering TV, radio, newspaper and the internet, Kenneth Newton collates evidence to show that, contrary to popular belief, the main effects are positive and inform and mobilise citizens rather than influencing their voting choice.Table of Contents1. Massive and minimal media effects; 2. The news landscape; 3. News diets; 4. Avoiding, rejecting, ignoring and accepting; 5. Digital pessimism; 6. Newspapers, voting and agenda-setting; 7. Media malaise and the mean world effect; 8. Personal experience as a reality check; 9. Pluralism and democracy; 10. Practical lessons.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisRecent years have seen renewed interest in the study of revolution. Spurred by events like the 2011 uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, the rise of Islamic State, and the emergence of populism, a new age of revolution has generated considerable interest. Yet, even as empirical studies of revolutions are thriving, there has been a stall in theories of revolution. Anatomies of Revolution offers a novel account of how revolutions begin, unfold and end. By combining insights from international relations, sociology, and global history, it outlines the benefits of a ''global historical sociology'' of revolutionary change, one in which international processes take centre stage. Featuring a wide range of cases from across modern world history, this is a comprehensive account of one of the world''s most important processes. It will interest students and scholars studying revolutions, political conflict and contentious politics in sociology, politics and international relations.Trade Review'George Lawson gives us a new perspective on the sociology of revolutions in a masterwork that is destined to become the best 'go-to' book on revolutions for the 2010-20 decade!' John Foran, University of California, Santa Barbara'An incredible tour de force, rich in scholarship and powerful in its original analysis, this is the brilliant new approach to revolutions we have been waiting for. Bridging history, sociology, and political science, Lawson treats revolutions as a living, evolving process, equally international and national in character. His fresh insights on the dynamics and outcomes of revolutions expand our understanding of events from seventeenth century England to today's Islamist and populist upheavals.' Jack A. Goldstone, Hazel Chair Professor, George Mason University, Virginia'In this magisterial and highly anticipated study, George Lawson forces us to fundamentally reconsider the way we think about revolutions. Theoretically sophisticated, empirically rich, and intellectually stimulating, this is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in revolutions.' Daniel Ritter, Stockholms universitet'In this highly original study, George Lawson gives flesh to an 'historicist' approach to the study of revolutions, outlining ideal-typical paths underpinning their materialization, unfolding, and outcome across multiple cases. In the process, he shows how revolutions are best understood in relational and global terms, and how revolution and avoidance of revolution have been central to the course of modern history.' Mark R. Beissinger, Henry W. Putnam Professor of Politics, Princeton University, New Jersey'George Lawson's latest book comes at a crucial time. With remarkable depth and breadth, Lawson argues for a relational understanding of revolution as a dynamic social process. In doing so, he provides a sweeping overview of the tensions, limitations, and contradictions inherent in revolutionary processes and outcomes. Contrary to those who question the revolutionary potential of contemporary uprisings, Lawson makes the case that, in historical context, many recent popular upheavals do indeed possess revolutionary qualities. Lawson shows that the age of revolutions is far from over. A brilliant book.' Erica Chenoweth, Harvard Kennedy School, Massachusetts'This is a brilliant book: cleverly conceived, beautifully crafted, and now the state of the art with reference to revolution. Lawson judiciously walks us through where we've been, are, and proffers a glimpse of where we must go, but it is by situating us in the global and revolution within the pantheon of socio-political change, he opens up whole new dimensions to our great good fortune. Smart, sophisticated, invaluable work.' Eric Selbin, Southwestern University, Texas'… this book accomplishes something truly remarkable: it provides clarity, not in spite of its complexity, but through it.' Eric Loefflad, The London School of Economics Review of Books (https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/)'Lawson sets the stage for a new generation of studies of radical social change and the reshaping of the modern global order.' John Ikenberry, Foreign Affairs'Lawson's double achievement of a rigorous engagement with revolutions literature and a demonstration of the usefulness of an ambitious and iconoclastic methodological approach makes this book valuable to all scholars of international politics.' Horia M. Dijmarescu, International Affairs'The book will likely stand as the ideal-typical example of fourth generation revolution studies … will be read a generation from now.' Colin J. Beck, Social ForcesTable of ContentsIntroduction: the rights and wrongs of revolution; Part I. Theories: 1. Revolutionary dynamics; 2. Within and beyond the fourth generation; 3. Anatomies of revolution; Part II. Histories: 4. Revolutionary situations: England and Chile; 5. Revolutionary trajectories: Cuba and South Africa; 6. Revolutionary outcomes: Iran and Ukraine; Part III. Prospects: 7. Revolutions in the contemporary world; 8. Revolutionary futures.

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Book SynopsisThis Element explains how ballot designs affect the behavior of voters, the performance of candidates, and the strategies of parties, how ballot form alters the salience of personal vote earning attributes and discusses the profound implications ballot forms have for party campaigns and election outcomes.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Electronic voting in salta: from adoption to implementation; 3. Disconnecting races: the behavioral implications of independent choices; 4. The rise of the personal vote: the implications for candidates; 5. The decline of territorial machines: the implications for parties; 6. The consequences of weakened gubernatorial coattails: the implications for small parties; 7. Conclusions. References.

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Book SynopsisWhile Western modern political thought has been a story of inclusion, it has also been one of continued exclusion and new forms of political oppression and silencing. This is why political theory is so necessary today.Political thought is diverse. From liberal theories laying out ideal democratic institutions, to critical analyses of postcolonial settler states, to conceptual analyses of the nature of freedom, there are very different approaches, topics and aims within the tradition of Western political theory.What binds these diverse forms of thinking together? How do how do they help us to understand political institutions, life, behaviour and events? How do they help us to make decisions in the complex world of politics?This book, significantly revised and reconceptualized, introduces you to the modern discipline of political theory in the Western tradition, tackling its key debates, concepts, problems and traditions:- What is the nature of political concepts? What problems dTrade ReviewA vital and engaging introduction to modern political theory in all its breadth and complexity. This book is an invaluable tool for any student of politics. * Ashley Dodsworth, Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Studies, University of Bristol, UK *This fifth edition of Andrew Heywood’s textbook Political Theory, adapted and improved by Clayton Chin, serves as an excellent introduction to political philosophy and theory. Approachable, comprehensive and updated, this book gives attention to students and instructors alike and is an essential resource for inclusion in more theoretically-oriented courses offered by political science departments. * Jean-Paul Gagnon, Senior Lecturer of Politics, University of Canberra, Australia *Clearly and accessibly written, this is a masterly and comprehensive study of the major concepts and problems in political theory. It relates key figures and traditions in the history of political thought to contemporary debates, covering the diverse strands of liberal thinking, as well as a wide range of critical theories and approaches. * Katherine Smits, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, New Zealand *This new edition of Political Theory is an astute, remarkably skilful and telling account of what political theory is. It is an engaging and stimulating resource for all those who are interested in the topic. * Ruth Groff, Associate Professor of Political Science, Saint Louis University, USA *A highly accessible, compelling and up-to-date introduction to political thought conveyed through the myriad debates that propel it from past to present. Students who read it will not only be able to grasp concepts, but learn how to use them to understand the world we live in. * Jemima Repo, Reader in Political and Feminist Theory, Newcastle University, UK *Newly revised, the fifth edition of Political Theory provides a comprehensive and up-to-date survey of the field. Distinguished by its focus on both traditional and modern political problems, including those related to exclusion, the book thoroughly explores the nature and contributions of the discipline. * Clay Arnold, Professor and Department Chair of Political Science, University of Central Arkansas, USA *Table of ContentsPART 1: WHAT IS POLITICAL THINKING? 1) The Problems of Political Theory 2) The Problem of Foundations: Tradition, Progress and Utopia 3) The Problem of Human Nature: The Individual and Society PART 2: MODERN POLITICAL ISSUES 4) The Problem of Power: Authority and Legitimacy 5) The Problem of the State: Politics, Sovereignty and Government 6) The Problem of Law: Order and Justice 7) The Problem of Citizenship: Freedom, Rights and Obligations 8) The Problem of Democracy: Representation and the Common Good 9) The Problem of Political Community: The Nation and Transnationalism PART 3: THE 20TH CENTURY AND BEYOND 10) The Problem of Property: Planning and the Market 11) The Problem of Equality: Social Justice and Welfare 12) The Problem of Exclusion: Culture and Gender 13) The Problem of Exclusion: Race and Colonialism

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Book SynopsisTHE TOP 10 BESTSELLER''Richly argued and brilliantly written... a deeply thoughtful analysis that should be mandatory reading for anyone seeking to understand where we have gone wrong.'' Vernon Bogdanor, Financial TimesIn WTF? Robert Peston draws on his years of experience as a political, economics and business journalist to show us what has gone bad and gives us a manifesto to put at least some of it right. Framed by two letters to his father (who died in early 2016) WTF? is Robert Peston''s highly personal account of what those who have ruled us for years got so badly wrong, and what we need to do to mend the terrible fractures in our society.With characteristic passion and clarity he looks at what must happen to prevent democracy being subverted by technocratic geniuses with the ability to manipulate social media, how and whether it is possible to make a success of leaving the EU, what the lessons should be of theTrade ReviewTremendously interesting analysis of the mess we've got ourselves into -- Judith Wood * Telegraph *Robert Peston's WTF is a work of meticulous analysis that is also an inspiring, and often moving, manifesto for change. Beautifully-written, it is a manual for our times that everyone should read. * Matthew d'Ancona *Informed, personal, angry and funny: Peston lets rip in an immensely readable and thought-provoking book. * Eddie Mair *Essential reading. * Stylist *This is a more radical, more passionate, swearier book than I would have expected from Peston - and the better for it... WTF is a great primer on how we ended up here. To escape this mess, we must first understand that. * London Evening Standard *This gripping and persuasive account of the mess facing liberal democracy ends with some optimism that politicians will rise to the challenge of responding to the tide of hopelessness. * i newspaper *WTF is a well-argued and comprehensive account of how we became the divided nation that is post-EU referendum Britain and it suggests some thoughtful policy levers that future governments might pull to bring us back together. * Express *It is richly argued and beautifully written... WTF has the prime virtue of encouraging the reader to reflect and argue. Peston has the journalist's gift of the striking turn of phrase, the telling anecdote, and the ability to explain complex economic problems in straightforward terms. But his book is far more than clever journalism. It is a deeply thoughtful analysis that should be mandatory reading for anyone seeking to understand where we have gone wrong. * Financial Times *WTF is possibly the best summary of Britain's problems to be released in recent years. * Young Fabian *Read the book, everyone. It's a superb analysis of the state we're in and what we can do about it. * Cole Moreton *An unbuttoned and vitally even-handed analysis that take in everything from the decline of social mobility to the tyranny of social media. * Metro *Elegant analysis of long term forces driving our politics (inc some solutions). Also a moving tribute to his dad. * Paul Waugh *The chapters on Tony Blair's and Gordon Brown's approach to borrowing, the handling of the banking crash and the failure to address economic inequality in its aftermath are well worth bookmarking. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThe 2014 Ukrainian-Crimean crisis has raised serious questions in the West about Russian motivations and future policy directions. Now more than ever, it is imperative to explore the defensive perceptions, reactions, and preparations of neighbouring countries, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Is there a convergence of their approaches along similar paths, or do their different cultures and historical experiences prefigure a divergence of their defense policies? While Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic all seem to have little concern about Russia’s policies in Ukraine, the Polish response has been uniquely strong and militarized. This book will explore reasons for the different responses to the crisis.Trade ReviewAn accurate and thorough investigation of the underlying defense policies such as this one is extremely valuable and a valid discussion to undertake.Eurasian Geography and Economics -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction and overview 1 Theoretical framework: liberalism, realism and constructivism2 Empires and peripheries: security and defense realities of East-Central Europe3 Communism and late communism: from forced convergence to divergence4 The Czech Republic: a reluctant ally5 Hungary: imperial legacies and post-imperial realities6 Poland: return to the West?7 Slovakia: politics from the periphery8 Recapitulation: from convergence to divergence and back?Index

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Book SynopsisThis book examines how election news reporting has changed over the last half century in Ireland by means of a unique dataset involving 25m words from newspapers as well as radio and television coverage. The authors examine reporting in terms of framing, tone and the distribution of coverage.They also focus on how the economy has affected election coverage as well as media reporting of leaders and personalities, gender and the effect of the commercial basis of media outlets. The findings - drawn from a machine learning computer system involving a huge content analysis study - will interest academics as well as politicians and policymakers internationally.Trade Review'This is an important and substantial contribution to scholarship in Irish journalism studies and Irish political studies.'Niamh Kirk, Estudios Irlandeses -- .Table of Contents1 Resilient reporting: An introduction2 Ireland: political, economic, and media systems3 The media and political change4 The role of the economy in media coverage5 Gender bias and Irish election coverage6 Party leaders and personalisation of politics7 Commercialism and election coverage8 Economy and crisis coverageConclusionAppendix 1: An overview of elections in Ireland since 1969Appendix 2: Data and methodologyReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisThe global financial crisis of 2007–8 did not offer the political and economic opportunities to the left that many thought it would. As financial institutions collapsed, traditional left-wing issues were apparently back on the agenda. However, instead of being a trigger for a resurgence of the left, in many European countries left-wing parties have suffered savage electoral defeat. At the same time, the crisis has led to austerity programmes being implemented across Europe. This book brings together essays that consider ten EU member states, including all bail-out recipients and some of the main 'donor' states, in an examination of this crucial period for the left in Europe from a number of perspectives. Comparisons are presented between the various EU member states, as well as different party families of the left, from social democracy through green left to radical left.Table of ContentsList of figures and tables Notes on contributors Glossary and abbreviations 1 The European left and the crisis: opportunity or catastrophe? Michael Holmes and Knut Roder 2 The Greek left and the crisis: the demise of PASOK and the rise of SYRIZANikolaos Nikolakakis3 The changing nature of the Spanish left: an uncertain balanceCarlos Rico Motos4 Geringonça: the Portuguese left approach to the crisisCláudia Toriz Ramos5 ‘Frankfurt’s way or Labour’s way’: the Irish left and the crisisMichael Holmes6 The Cypriot Left and the crisis: one step forward, two steps back Yiannos Katsourides7 The Italian left and the crisis: the case of Matteo Renzi’s Partito DemocraticoJorge del Palacio Martín8 The financial crisis and the curse of Latvian left partiesKarlis Bukovskis and Ilvija Bruge9 Navigating through troubled times: the left and the euro crisis in FinlandTapio Raunio10 Take a walk on the left side: the impact of austerity politics in FranceAntonella Seddone and Julien Navarro11 In the shadow of Merkel: the German left and the crisisKnut Roder12 Between Scylla and Charybdis: Europe, nationalism and left politics Andy Storey13 Alter-Europeanism? The left and European integration after the crisis?Michael Holmes and Knut RoderIndex

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents ground-breaking analyses of how the far right represents natural environments and environmentalism around the globe. Images are not simply pervasive in our increasingly visual culture – they are a means of proposing worlds to viewers. Accordingly, the book approaches the visual not as something ‘extra’ or ‘illustrative’ but as a key means of producing identities and ‘doing politics’. Putting visuality centre stage and covering political parties and non-party actors in Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe and the United States, contributors demonstrate the various ways in which the far right articulates natural environments and the rampant environmental crises of the twenty-first century, providing essential insights into such multifaceted politics.Trade Review‘In the growing literature on the far right and the environment, too few works centre the visual politics that are so integral to extremist appeals. Forchtner and his collaborators work to address this lacuna. Novel in its focus, global in its scope, and rigorous in its analysis, Visualising far-right environments makes a necessary and compelling contribution to our understanding of the far right today.’ John Hultgren, Bennington College‘A welcome, timely, and original contribution. This set of diverse global case studies richly analyzes the evergreen appeal of environmental and ecological claims—and their visual representations—to burgeoning far right movements around the world. An essential read.’ Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Founding Director of the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at the American University in Washington, DC -- .Table of ContentsStudying the far right’s natural environments: towards a visual turn – Bernhard Forchtner 1 Right as rain: affective publics and the changing visual rhetoric of the far right in South Africa – Scott Burnett 2 The exclusivist claims of Pacific ecofascists: visual environmental communication by far-right groups in Australia and New Zealand – Kristy Campion and Justin Phillips 3 The National Socialist Movement of the United States and the turn to environmentalism: greenfingers or brownshirts? – Daniel Jones 4 The environmental semiotics of the Spanish far-right populism: Vox’s visual rhetoric strategies online – Carmen Aguilera-Carnerero 5 Purity and control: gender and visual environmental communication by the extreme right in Cyprus – Miranda Christou 6 The new Russian civilisation: Arctic fossil fuels, white masculinity, and the neo-fascist visual politics of the Izborskii Club – Sonja Pietiläinen 7 Not so green after all: visual representation of green issues by the far-right Kotlebovci – People’s Party Our Slovakia – Radka Vicenová, Veronika Oravcová and Matúš Mišík 8 From metapolitics to electoral communication: visualising ‘nature’ in the French far right – Zoé Carle 9 The murky world of ideologies: the (un)troubling overlaps in visual communication between Hungarian greens and far-right ecologists – Balša Lubarda 10 Homeland, cows and climate change: the visualisation of environmental issues by the far right in India – Mukul Sharma 11 Double vision: local environment and global climate change through the German far-right lens – Bernhard Forchtner and Jonathan Olsen 12 Talking heads and contrarian graphs: televising the Swedish far right’s climate denialism – Kjell Vowles 13 The (paranoid) style of American climate politics: a comparative visual rhetoric analysis of web design by far-right and left conspiracists in the United States – Lauren Cagle Looking back, looking forward: some preliminary conclusions on the far right’s visualisation of its natural environments – Bernhard Forchtner Index

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Book Synopsis'Fascinating, revealing and entertaining.' John Humphrys'A pure pleasure to read.' Polly Toynbee'Extraordinary.' Kirsty WarkA landmark history of the men and women who have defined the UK's role in the modern world - and what makes them special - by a seasoned political journalist.At a time of unprecedented political upheaval, this magisterial history explains who leads us and why. From Harold Wilson to Boris Johnson, it brilliantly brings to life all 10 inhabitants of 10 Downing Street over the past fifty years, vividly outlining their successes and failures - and what made each of them special. Based on unprecedented access and in-depth interviews, and inspired by the author's BBC Radio 4 and television series, Steve Richards expertly examines the men and women who have defined the UK's role in the modern world and sheds new light on the demands of the highest public office in the land.Trade ReviewA thoughtful and compelling book... the chapters on Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are the jewels in the crown, but the entire set glitter. * Stephen Bush, Observer *Brilliant. * Independent *A fascinating read... Steve's writing is revealing and entertaining. * John Humphrys *A pure pleasure to read. In Richards' bright, sharp portraits of nine prime ministers, all our modern history springs to life. An enlightening retrospective. * Polly Toynbee *A fascinating and balanced review of the leadership strengths and weaknesses in the last nine British Prime Ministers from a journalist who has known them all. * Jon Snow, Channel Four News *Steve Richards' ability to get inside the heads of our modern Prime Ministers is extraordinary - some of them might even look at themselves with a new acuity. * Kirsty Wark *An engaging survey of modern prime ministers... [Richards is] a distinguished and influential political journalist and commentator. * Literary Review *You could not ask for a better qualified guide... than political journalist Steve Richards... the whole book brims with counter-intuitive insights. * Prospect *Entertaining and readable... Richards is a seasoned raconteur. * The Herald *An original twist on a familiar topic... the leaders of both main parties would do well to sit down and read it before the country goes to the polls. * MoneyWeek *There has been no better time to absorb oneself in some modern political history, and there is no better person to guide you through it than Steve Richards. The great thing about Steve's book is that it helps us understand how our last nine prime ministers viewed things themselves and why they took the decisions they did... His book is entertaining, informative and timely. * Evan Davis *Steve Richards offers a real treat to readers. Covering no fewer than nine Prime Ministers, he displays his talents to the full: an unsurpassed grasp of the context of leadership, empathetic yet properly critical assessment of records and a communication style that can reach out to anyone interested in politics and power. * John Bercow *Smart and incisive, from a fine scribe and a wise watcher. Steve Richards is a joy. * James Naughtie *Steve Richards' excellent portraits of Prime Ministers are both penetrating and sympathetic. Written from his expert perspective as a broadcaster and political journalist, this book is deeply insightful about the people who have tried to govern us. * Adam Boulton *Table of Contents0: Introduction 1: Harold Wilson 2: Edward Heath 3: James Callaghan 4: Margaret Thatcher 5: John Major 6: Tony Blair 7: Gordon Brown 8: David Cameron 9: Theresa May 10: Conclusion 11: Notes 12: Illustration Credits 13: Acknowledgements 14: Index

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Book SynopsisLyndon Baines Johnson, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, Theresa May, and Donald Trump: each had different motivations, methods, and paths, but they all sought the highest office. And yet when they reached their goal, they often found that the power they had imagined was illusory. Their sweeping visions of reform faltered. They faced bureaucratic obstructions, but often the biggest obstruction was their own character. However, their personalities could help them as much as hurt them. Arguably the most successful of them, LBJ showed little indication that he supported what he is best known for - the Civil Rights Act - but his grit, resolve, and brute political skill saw him bend Congress to his will. David Runciman tackles the limitations of high office and how the personal histories of those who achieved the very pinnacles of power helped to define their successes and failures in office. These portraits show what characters are most effective in these offices. Could this be a blueprint for good and effective leadership in an age lacking good leaders?Trade ReviewPraise for How Democracy Ends: 'Presented in pellucid prose free of the jargon of academic political science, How Democracy Ends is a strikingly readable and richly learned contribution to understanding the world today ... surely one of the most luminously intelligent books on politics to have been published for many years.' -- John Gray * New Statesman *Bracingly intelligent...a wonderful read -- Mark Mazower * Guardian *Full of intriguing new lines of thought -- Gideon Rachman * FT *Refreshingly, rather than a knicker-twisting diatribe about Trump and Brexit, Runciman offers a thoughtful analysis about what popular democracy means, and its alternatives. -- Katrina Gulliver * Spectator *Clear-headed, compact and timely * Irish Times *An excellent book: it is well-written, evenly paced, accessible, non-academic in tone but very much so in rigour and thoughtfulness. It is sceptical but not pessimistic, and warnful but not alarmist ... It is heartily recommended for anyone who seeks to understand our current malaise and interested in this question of how democracy got to where it is today, and where it may go - if anywhere - next. * LSE Review of Books *Refreshingly free of received and rehearsed wisdoms, Runciman doesn't tiptoe around sacred cows and invites us to take part in that most adult way of thinking: to examine contradictory ideas in tandem and ponder what the dissonance amounts to. . . . [H]e argues lucidly, persuasively, even exhilaratingly at times. The nightly news will never appear exactly the same again * Australian *Praise for The Confidence Trap: Runciman's book abounds with fresh insights, arresting paradoxes, and new ways of posing old problems -- Andrew Gamble * Times Literary Supplement *This rich and refreshing book will be of intense interest to anyone puzzled by the near paralysis that seems to afflict democratic government in a number of countries -- John Gray * New York Review of Books *As a corrective to the doom-and-gloomsters, this book makes some telling points, and he is a clear and forceful writer -- Mark Mazower * Financial Times *Runciman is a good writer and brave pioneer. . . . The picture he sketches is agreeably bold * Sydney Morning Herald *[An] ingenious account . . . Runciman concludes that democracy will probably survive, having made a delightfully stimulating, if counterintuitive case, that the unnerving tendency of democracies to stumble into crises is matched by their knack for getting out of them * Publisher's Weekly *What we get here is good history. The events at the seven junctures are presented in a way that is learned, concise and informative -- Stein Ringen * International Affairs *Those who cannot remember history, George Santayana observed, are condemned to repeat it. Except he's wrong, according to David Runciman. In his admirable analysis, How Democracy Ends, he says the trouble is that we remember the least helpful bits of history, perpetually harking back to the 1930s to explain the aspects of modern politics we like least: Trump especially. Really we'd be better off comparing and contrasting ourselves with ancient Athens, the world's purest democracy. * Evening Standard *well-written -- Bryan Maye * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAnyone who is concerned about the future of democracy should read this brisk, accessible book. Anyone who is not concerned should definitely read it. -- Daron Acemoglu, co-author of Why Nations FailHow Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt is a useful primer on the importance of norms, institutional restraints and civic participation in maintaining a democracy - and how quickly those things can erode when we're not paying attention * President Barack Obama *With great energy and integrity [Levitsky and Ziblatt] apply their expertise to the current problems of the United States. -- Timothy Snyder, author of On TyrannyWe owe the authors a debt of thanks for bringing their deep understanding to bear on the central political issue of the day. -- Francis Fukuyama, author of Political Order and Political DecayWhat's the worst thing to happen to US democracy recently? Most answers to that question start and end with Donald Trump. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, though as horrified by Trump as anyone, try to take a wider view. This book looks to history to provide a guide for defending democratic norms when they are under threat, and finds that it is possible to fight back. Provocative and readable. -- David Runciman * The Guardian *There are two must-read books about the Trump presidency at the moment. This is the one you probably haven't heard of. It is also the one that is most useful to British readers. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt are anti-Donald Trump politics professors at Harvard. And the big advantage of political scientists over even the shrewdest and luckiest of eavesdropping journalists is that they have the training to give us a bigger picture.They set out some rules about the slow, internal collapse of democracies, which are entirely relevant to Britain... * The Times *The greatest of the many merits of Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt's contribution to what will doubtless be the ballooning discipline of democracy death studies is their rejection of western exceptionalism. They tell inspiring stories I had not heard before...excellent, scholarly and readable, alarming and level-headed. * The Guardian *The political-science text in vogue this winter is How Democracies Die. * The New Yorker *[An] important new book. * New York Times *Levitsky and Ziblatt show how democracies have collapsed elsewhere-not just through violent coups, but more commonly (and insidiously) through a gradual slide into authoritarianism.... How Democracies Die is a lucid and essential guide to what can happen here. * New York Times *We're already awash in public indignation-what we desperately need is a sober, dispassionate look at the current state of affairs. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, two of the most respected scholars in the field of democracy studies, offer just that. * The Washington Post *Grander, more didactic ambitions underpin "How Democracies Die" ... a more scholarly approach * The Economist *The most thought-provoking book comparing democratic crises in different nations * New York Review of Books *The most important book of the Trump era was not Bob Woodward's Fear or Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury or any of the other bestselling exposés of the White House circus. Arguably it was a wonkish tome by two Harvard political scientists, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, published a year into Donald Trump's presidency and entitled How Democracies Die * The Economist *

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Book SynopsisWe live in a golden age of fictional television, while our politics has never been so controversial. This book explores that relationship, asking what it is that some of America’s most popular TV shows have to say about its politics. Perhaps, like the author, you have gasped at Game of Thrones and balked at Breaking Bad. This book illustrates how, far from being outside of politics, shows such as these are deeply political, helping to fill our world with meaning. To this end, the book analyses Game of Thrones, House of Cards, The West Wing, Homeland, 24, Veep, The Wire, The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad. These are all politically consequential shows that shape how we feel and think about world politics.Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsList of abbreviationsIntroductionPart I: Watching television1 America and the screen2 Screening America under Bush, Obama, and Trump3 Drawing lines: world politics and popular culture4 Analysing fictional television Part II: Politics and television5 World politics as realpolitik (in House of Cards and Game of Thrones)6 Constructing counter-terrorism (in Homeland, 24, and The West Wing)7 Imagining the president (in The West Wing, 24, and Veep)Part III: Television and our political world8 Ethics and inequality (in The Wire)9 Being human in a world of zombies (in The Walking Dead)10 The personal is political (in Breaking Bad)ConclusionBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisPrinciples of Comparative Politicsoffers a view into the rich world of comparative inquiry, research, and scholarship. This groundbreaking text gives students meaningful insight into how cross-national comparison is actually conducted and why it matters. William R. Clark, Matt Golder, and Sona N. Golder walk us through the enduring questions that scholars grapple with, the issues about which consensus has started to emerge, and the tools comparativists use to analyze the complex and interesting problems at the heart of the field.The thoroughly revisedFourth Editionincludes streamlined discussion and analysis of key topics and theories in the field.

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Book SynopsisIn World Order, Henry Kissinger - one of the leading practitioners of world diplomacy and author of On China - makes his monumental investigation into the ''tectonic plates'' of global history and state relations.World Order is the summation of Henry Kissinger''s thinking about history, strategy and statecraft. As if taking a perspective from far above the globe, it examines the great tectonic plates of history and the motivations of nations, explaining the attitudes that states and empires have taken to the rest of the world from the formation of Europe to our own times.Kissinger identifies four great ''world orders'' in history - the European, Islamic, Chinese and American. Since the end of Charlemagne''s empire, and especially since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, Europeans have striven for balance in international affairs, first in their own continent and then globally. Islamic states have looked to their destined expansion over regions populated by unbelievers, a position exemplified today by Iran under the ayatollahs. For over 2000 years the Chinese have seen ''all under Heaven'' as being tributary to the Chinese Emperor. America views itself as a ''city on a hill'', a beacon to the world, whose values have universal validity. How have these attitudes evolved and how have they shaped the histories of their nations, regions, and the rest of the world? What has happened when they have come into contact with each other? How have they balanced legitimacy and power at different times? What is the condition of each in our contemporary world, and how are they shaping relations between states now?To answer these questions Henry Kissinger draws upon a lifetime''s historical study and unmatched experience as a world statesman. His account is shot through with observations about how historical change takes place, how some leaders shape their times and others fail to do so, and how far states can stray from the ideas which define them. World Order is a masterpiece of narrative, analysis and portraits of great historical actors that only Henry Kissinger could have written.Trade ReviewHenry Kissinger ... still has remarkable influence. Reading this book, you can see why ... the wit, clarity and concision of his chapters on Europe, America and jihadism are bracing * Economist *Part history, part lecture, part memoir ... Kissinger's conclusion deserves to be read and understood by all candidates ahead of the 2016 presidential election. World order depends on it -- Lionel Barber * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisThe root of democratic decline is insecurity, not inequality. Antidemocrats across the globe feel differently about inequality, but all fear losing what they have—financially or culturally. Pranab Bardhan urges context-sensitive policy solutions and the promotion of civic patriotism and moderate community values over aggrandizing ethnonationalism.Trade ReviewSituating American Trumpism within a global story of the rise of antidemocratic politics in other big, diverse countries like Brazil and India,…[Bardhan] presents a sober contemplation of demagogues like Jair Bolsonaro and Narendra Modi, who weaken democracy with the support of disaffected electoral majorities. -- Alexander Burns * New York Review of Books *Ambitious…[This book] makes an important contribution to the burgeoning literature on the erosion of democracy worldwide. -- Martin Wolf * Financial Times *Bardhan argues that the ills plaguing the world are best understood not in terms of inequality but in terms of insecurity—simmering economic and social anxiety about job loss, declining incomes, poverty, and cultural change. -- Daron Acemoglu * Foreign Affairs *Not poverty, not inequality, but insecurity is at the root of the worldwide upsurge in populism and disenchantment with democracy. This is the main message of A World of Insecurity…[Bardhan’s] impressively comprehensive, richly informed and balanced book. -- Philippe Van Parijs * Brussels Times *Bardhan’s contribution to a growing body of literature on the phenomenon of disenchantment is particularly welcome as it not only contains piercing commentaries and fresh insights but also offers some workable solutions to this conundrum…The book hands us a great opportunity to bridge the widening gap between intellectual rigour and popular opinion. -- Iman Kumar Mitra * Telegraph India *Wide-ranging…Policy makers, labor activists, and economists will find much to chew on. * Publishers Weekly *[Bardhan] proposes that liberalism’s ethical principles—its normative claims—are still as palpable today in our present historical circumstances, in the political ruins we call neoliberalism and populism, as they were at their origin in the seventeenth century. -- James Livingston * Project Syndicate *An accessible book, challenging but with impressive and topical examples. -- Christine Shields * Society of Professional Economists *In his bold new book [Bardhan] explains the rise of authoritarianism, in many cases driven, as he says, by populist demagogues—leaders who claim to embody the popular will and who, though they may emerge in formal democracies, then trample upon the rules and institutions of representative government. -- John Harriss * Today's Totalitarianism *A World of Insecurity well points out the critical issues of a world where democracy loses the postulate of the people’s participation in collective decision-making. -- Albertina Nani * History of Economic Thought and Policy *In this important book, Pranab Bardhan explores how and why the insecurities of our age have metastasized into our democratic institutions. These cancers on democracy block the cooperation necessary for solution of all other major problems. Thus, they are arguably the most consequential developments of our times. -- George Akerlof, 2001 Nobel Laureate in EconomicsPranab Bardhan is one of the wisest social scientists writing today, and the hallmarks of his writing are parsimony, clarity, and the depth of ideas. Indeed, the ratio of ideas to pages is among the highest in our field. A World of Insecurity is a panoramic book weaving together an analysis of the current economic and political crisis, acutely discussed by a master political economist. -- John Roemer, Yale UniversityA World of Insecurity is an outstanding work. Bardhan tackles hard questions without illusions but also without becoming disillusioned. -- Samuel Bowles, Santa Fe Institute, author of The Moral Economy: Why Good Incentives Are No Substitute for Good Citizens

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Financial Times Best Summer Book""A Financial Times Best Book of the Year- Politics""Bell places the minutiae of academic administration in the context of China’s post-Cultural Revolution attempt to reinstate a ‘complex bureaucratic system informed by the ideal of political meritocracy.’ His depiction of this goal’s uneven achievement is enriched by anecdotes about censorship, corruption, the importance of seemingly frivolous aesthetic matters, Shandong’s drinking culture, and the occasionally comic failures of Chinese institutions to convey their aims abroad." * New Yorker *"Fascinating insight into life in China from the perspective of a non-Chinese academic. Bell offers a frank assessment of the realities of being a scholar in China. . . . Highly recommended for anyone interested in academia in present-day China." * Library Journal *"The Dean of Shandong wonderfully weaves together Bell’s deep knowledge of Chinese thought, political institutions, and everyday life in an extremely accessible style."---Paul J. D’Ambrosio, Los Angeles Review of Books"An insightful memoir of the author’s time as an administrator at a Chinese university. . . .at times frank, perceptive and wryly amusing. . . .those like Bell who write about [China] with wit and insight, deserve to be listened to."---James Crabtree, Financial Times"[A] terrific book. . . . [The Dean of Shandong] is a very entertaining and insightful short memoir of what it’s like to run part of a university, being neither a Chinese citizen nor a member of the Party, and having to deal with issues that are the kind of issues that administrators all over the world deal with — drinking, for example, not just by students, but mostly by administrators, and other issues as well. . . Dean of Shandong is a cool book."---William Kirby, The Sinica Podcast"[Bell] wants to encourage “understanding and sympathy” for a people who have made extraordinary economic and social gains in only a few decades, who are mainly extremely hard working, and who share similar hopes for their families and futures as we do. We must certainly be vigilant. But, as Bell suggests, our vigilance should be tempered by humanity and the desire for engagement, not ostracism."---Richard Horton, The Lancet"Perceptive and often funny."---Gideon Rachman, Financial Times"An enjoyable read. . . . [The Dean of Shandong] gives the reader a firsthand account of living in a country/civilization that is impossible to find in the Western media."---Saralee Turner, iAffairs"[Confucianism], little understood in the West, is the focus of Daniel Bell’s illuminating analysis of the Chinese political system today in The Dean of Shandong: Confessions of a Minor Bureaucrat at a Chinese University."---Mal Warwick, Mal Warwick on Books"Bell gives nuanced and sophisticated details about the logic of the daily functioning of the Chinese political meritocracy. . . . Bell also shares his experience of daily collective leadership at Shandong University and offers perceptive insider viewpoints. . . . Overall, this is a very readable book written from a ’progressive conservative perspective.’"---Haimo Li, Dao"Daniel A. Bell was the first foreign dean of a politics faculty in a mainstream, mainland Chinese university; he therefore has a unique story to tell. It is a revealing story, combining Bell’s recollections with his analysis of what went on under the surface in a specific Chinese organisation, together with other topics that are part of the life of a dean in any university. . . .Overall, this book brings to life many aspects of organisational life in China as well giving an insight into the personal career of a leading scholar of China when faced with a unique opportunity and challenge."---Martin Lockett, Asian Affairs"[A] riveting, unapologetically humorous read . . . . Bell takes a remarkably nuanced approach in his social commentary - which is neither bombastic nor patronising. . . . On topics such as corruption and accountability mechanisms, Bell offers more sophisticated musings than can be found across much of the reductionist, existing discourse."---Brian Wong, China-US Focus"A new memoir from a Westerner living as a bureaucrat in China's education system has important lessons for America. . . . [Bell] gives Western readers a unique vision into the new China."---Jesse Russell, American Conservative"Daniel A. Bell’s The Dean of Shandong. . . is a unique contribution to our understanding of China’s higher education system and to the field of Chinese studies more generally."---Terry Bodenhorn, The China Quarterly"Informative, enlightening. . . . Highly recommended. General readers through faculty." * Choice Reviews *"Fair and honest in its judgments, [The Dean of Shandong] offers readers a sympathetic but objective view of academic and social life in China and is a welcome corrective to the unhinged narratives about China that pass for the norm today."---Shuchen Xiang, Philosophy East and West"Bell’s account is amusing and enjoyable, from his description of the use of emojis in messages between colleagues, to his decision to dye his hair in order to fit in. Bell offers useful insights into ideology, politics and how China might be better understood. . . .Highly readable and informative."---Tim Summers, International Affairs ​​​​​​​"A perceptive and often funny account of operating inside the [Chinese political] system."---Gideon Rachman, Financial Times

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The book is without any doubt a must-read for all party scholars. De Vries and Hobolt demonstrate that by focusing too much on the peculiarity of our times and trying to understand the novelty of a phenomenon we sometimes overlook that some patterns remain the same."---Sarah Engler, Party Politics"A smart and accessible book which relies on a wealth of empirical evidence to make its case — and it shines bright as an example of great academic writing, because it does so with a clarity that looks effortless but is so hard to attain."---Felix Simon, Medium"Covering and utilising an impressive bibliography in their research, they [De Vries and Hobolt] offer readers an innovative approach to the theory of political parties. Attempting to capture a broad audience while simultaneously attracting political experts, political scientists and entrepreneurs, the book offers us a timely approach to the way our politics are constructed. Moreover, it suggests that our world has to be seen as a more complex field. With Political Entrepreneurs, De Vries and Hobolt have successfully refreshed the literature on political parties, making the field more appealing to new researchers"---George Kordas, LSE Review of Books"Catherine de Vries and Sara Hobolt are arguably among the most influential scholars working on party competition in Europe. . . . Their book presents an exceptional contribution to research on European party competition that will unquestionably be a focal point of reference for any future research in this field."---Julia Schulte-Cloos, Acta Politica

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Book SynopsisWhy aren't ordinary Russians more outraged by Putin's invasion of Ukraine? Inside the Kremlin's own historical propaganda narratives, Russia's invasion of Ukraine makes complete sense. From its World War II cult to anti-Western conspiracy theories, the Kremlin has long used myth and memory to legitimize repression at home and imperialism abroad, its patriotic history resonating with and persuading large swathes of the Russian population. In Memory Makers, Russia analyst Jade McGlynn takes us into the depths of Russian historical propaganda, revealing the chilling web of nationwide narratives and practices perforating everyday life, from after-school patriotic history clubs to tower block World War II murals. The use of history to manifest a particular Russian identity has had grotesque, even gruesome, consequences, but it belongs to a global political pattern where one's view of history is the ultimate marker of political loyalty, patriotism and national belonging. Memory MTrade ReviewWith authority and skill … McGlynn gives what now ranks as the most reliable, up-to-date account of the use and misuse of history and memory in post-Soviet Russia. -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *McGlynn presents a powerful and disturbing case that the invasion had a convincing historical logic to it, for Vladimir Putin and for Russians more generally. . . . As if to prove McGlynn’s point, historically based justifications for Russian policy and alleged plots by the West form terrifyingly explicit parts of Russia’s most recent National Security Strategy. Her insightful and creative analysis suggests that we are in for a long conflict not just over the fate of Ukraine, but also over how differing memories of the past will continue to shape the future. * Washington Post *McGlynn’s informative study of Russia’s “memory wars” shows just how easily performance, media narratives and cultural priming can slip into real violence. -- Bradley A. Gorski * Times Literary Supplement *Memory Makers makes for fascinating reading … [It] should be required reading for anyone wishing to engage in Russian politics, scholars, journalists, policy-makers alike. -- Usman Butt * Middle East Monitor *Pithy and tightly argued. -- Christopher Silvester * The Critic *Scholarly, revelatory and deeply unsettling … Dr McGlynn’s brilliant, remorseless study inculpates almost the entire Russian nation. -- Allan Mallinson * Country Life *History is back - armed with artillery and with a commitment to genocide. Jade McGlynn’s highly timely study shows how Putin weaponises the past to destroy the future * Peter Pomerantsev, Author of 'This is Not Propaganda' *As Vladimir Putin presents his imperial adventure in Ukraine as a twenty-first century re-run of the Great Patriotic War against the Nazis, it has never been more crucial to understand the degree to which his regime seeks to legitimise itself by the rewriting of history, and Jade McGlynn provides a deeply-argued and nuanced analysis of this pernicious process. * Mark Galeotti, Author of 'A Short History of Russia' *Jade McGlynn explains why Russians back the senseless war on Ukraine - because of the state's abuse of history as a tool to legitimate Russia's return to empire. * Keir Giles, Author of 'Russia’s War on Everybody' *McGlynn’s fascinating study shows how Russian memory politics does much more than evoke memories of World War Two. Its particular propaganda form is to replay and conflate the past and the present. Events in Ukraine in 2014 are not just said to echo those of the 1940s, footage and commentary are literately spliced together; Russia’s intervention in Syria is depicted as the Cold War that wasn’t, with Moscow victorious. * Andrew Wilson, University College London, author of 'Ukraine Crisis: What it Means for the West' *McGlynn delivers a timely, well-researched account of how memory politics are playing out in Russia today, where history also functions as ideology. This book is excellent for those interested in discovering how Russians understand their recent history, and why they have come to view it as they do. * Todd H. Nelson, Cleveland State University, Author of 'Bringing Stalin Back In: Memory Politics and the Creation of a Useable Past in Putin’s Russia' *Painstakingly dissects the genesis, defining features and aims of the Kremlin’s manyfold (ab)uses of history in the last decade...Jade McGlynn’s book is much-needed reading for scholars who want to dig deeper into the discourse underpinning Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the political use of history in today’s world more generally. Through thorough and painstaking analysis, the author engages with this narrative very seriously, dissecting its key tenets, examining where it comes from – and, sadly, where it is leading Russia and its people. * The International Spectator *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Note on Transliteration, Translation and Citation Style List of Abbreviations 1. Taking Back Control of History 2. The Kremlin’s Memory Policies 3. Past as Present: The Historical Framing of Ukraine, Sanctions and Syria 4. Amplifying the Call to History 5. Living Forms of Patriotism 6. Attaining Cultural Consciousness 7. The Endlessness of History References Index

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Book SynopsisOnce seen as a fringe phenomenon, populism is back. While some politicians and media outlets present it as dangerous to the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, others hail it as the fix for broken democracies. Not surprisingly, questions about populism abound. Does it really threaten democracy? Why the sudden rise in populism? And what are we talking about when we talk about "populism"? The Global Rise of Populism argues for the need to rethink this concept. While still based on the classic divide between "the people" and "the elite," populism's reliance on new media technologies, its shifting relationship to political representation, and its increasing ubiquity have seen it transform in nuanced ways that demand explaining. Benjamin Moffitt contends that populism is not one entity, but a political style that is performed, embodied, and enacted across different political and cultural contexts. This new understanding makes sense of populism in a time when media pervades political life, a sense of crisis prevails, and populism has gone truly global.Trade Review"Everybody must have heard by now that the so-called 'specter of populism' is once again haunting Europe, the US, the whole world! Obviously, something other than banal paraphrases of Marx is urgently needed to explain populism's complexity. Benjamin Moffitt provides exactly that. His innovative ideas will undoubtedly fuel academic debate for years to come." -- Yannis Stavrakakis * Aristotle University of Thessaloniki *"In the increasingly crowded field of populism studies, The Global Rise of Populism develops a fresh approach. It is a must-read for researchers and students of global populism, the media, and politics." -- Carlos de la Torre * University of Kentucky *Table of ContentsContents and Abstracts1Introduction: The Global Rise of Populism chapter abstractThis introductory chapter sets the scene by outlining the rise of populism across the globe over the past two decades, and introducing the key arguments, themes and structure of the book. The chapter makes the case that we need to rethink populism in an age of media saturation, communicative abundance and a wide perception of global crisis. It does this by focusing on populism's position in a shifting media landscape; populism's genuinely global dimension – which moves beyond the Americas and Europe to also take in the Asia-Pacific and Africa; and arguing that populism is not an ideology, strategy, discourse or political logic, but rather a distinct political style comprised of 1) appeal to 'the people' versus 'the elite', 2) 'bad manners', and 3) crisis, breakdown or threat. 2The Problems with Populism chapter abstractThis chapter traces the historical development of the term 'populism', tracing its etymological roots from the US Populist Party of the late nineteenth century through populism's conceptual 'journeys' across the twentieth century, before providing a critical overview of contemporary debates about how to define it. It identifies the four central approaches to populism in the current literature – populism as ideology, strategy, discourse and political logic – and outlines the key authors, central arguments and key features of each approach. In doing so, it balances the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches, overall showing that while the features of populism that each approach identifies may be valid – for example, nearly all agree on the centrality of 'the people' versus 'the elite' or some Other – there are problems with the social science categories they use to describe the phenomenon. 3Understanding Contemporary Populism: Populism as a Political Style chapter abstractThis chapter develops the concept of political style as a new way of thinking about populism. Synthesising work on the concept in the fields of rhetoric, political philosophy and political sociology, it defines political style as the repertoires of embodied, symbolically mediated performance made to audiences that are used to create and navigate the fields of power that comprise the political, stretching from the domain of government through to everyday life. It then uses this concept to understand populism. This is done inductively, by examining the cases of 28 populist leaders from around the world, and determining what links them in terms of political style. The three key features of populism thought of in this way are: appeal to 'the people' versus 'the elite'; 'bad manners'; and crisis, breakdown or threat. The chapter then sets out the positive ramifications of using this new conception of populism. 4The Performer: Populism & the Leader chapter abstractThis chapter addresses the specific role of the populist leader as the key 'performer' of contemporary populism. It considers the centrality of leaders within populism, arguing that they should be focused upon above and beyond parties and movements when studying the phenomenon. It then examines how these leaders must negotiate between appearing as both of 'the people' as well as above 'the people' at the same time, balancing performances of ordinariness with extraordinariness. In terms of ordinariness, it looks at populist leaders' 'bad manners' and efforts to distance themselves from 'mainstream' political leaders, focusing on how they flaunt expectations of how politicians are 'supposed' to act. In terms of extraordinariness, it shows how populist leaders present themselves as the embodiment of 'the people', often through performances of strength, health and virility, and how this links with classic notions of the body politic. 5The Stage I: Populism & the Media chapter abstractThis chapter addresses the media as one of the key 'stages' upon which contemporary populism plays out upon. It seeks to answer the following questions: what is the relationship between the media and populism? How do populist actors use media, and how do media cover them? And what have changes in the media landscape, particularly the emergence of new media, meant for populism? In doing so, the chapter examines the links between contemporary populism and the mediatisation of politics, whereby politics is increasingly reshaped and changed as the influence of the media grows. It presents a case for understanding populist actors' nuanced adaption of new media technologies and strategies as a central factor in the spread of the phenomenon, while also reflecting on the role of media control and celebrity within contemporary populism. It finally addresses what the shift from old media to new media has meant for contemporary populism. 6The Audience: Populism & 'The People' chapter abstractThis chapter turns to populism's central 'audience' – 'the people' – and investigates the way that populist actors use mediated communication to construct, portray and render-present 'the people' in contemporary populism. It seeks to answer a number of important questions: what processes are involved in speaking for 'the people'? Who are populist performances actually aimed towards? And why do some characterisations of 'the people' gain traction, while others fail? Challenging claims that populism is a 'direct' or 'unmediated' phenomenon, it introduces the concept of mediation in order to better understand these processes. It does this by considering the role of images and media spectacles in presenting 'the people' in contemporary populism; outlining the differences between populist audiences and constituencies when speaking for 'the people'; and explaining how media are never just neutral 'loudspeakers' for populist performances, but actually active participants, often presenting themselves as proxies for 'the people'. 7The Stage II: Populism & Crisis chapter abstractWhile the received wisdom in the literature on populism is that crisis is a trigger for populism, this chapter offers a new perspective, arguing that we should also consider how populism attempts to act as a trigger for crisis. This is because crisis is never just a neutral or objective phenomenon, but must be performed and mediated by certain actors – something populists tend to do well. Conceptualising crisis as the 'spectacularisation of failure', the chapter shows how populists use crisis to pit 'the people' against a dangerous Other, radically simplify the terrain of political debate; and advocate strong leadership and quick political action. In making this argument, the chapter suggests that we should move from a conception of crisis as something that is purely external to populism, to one that acknowledges the performance of crisis as an internal feature of populism as conceptualised as a political style. 8Populism & Democracy chapter abstractThis chapter tackles one of the most controversial debates when it comes to populism: what is populism's relationship to democracy? Arguing that populism itself tells us very little about the substantive democratic 'content' of any political project, the chapter undoes the strict binary between populism and democracy that is often invoked in the literature by instead examining both the democratic and anti-democratic tendencies within populism as conceptualised as a political style. In doing so, it shows that these tendencies can operate concurrently, with populists flaunting their democratic tendencies at the same time as undoing democratic guarantees. Overall, it demonstrates that questions about populism's relationship to democracy should not always be taken at face value, as they often conceal larger questions about what constitutes 'correct' or 'legitimate' forms of political practice. 9Conclusion: The Future of Populism chapter abstractThis chapter draws together the arguments made within this book about populism as a political style and discusses the implications for our understanding of the relationship between contemporary populism, media, crisis and democracy. It shows that contemporary populism should be conceptualised as a distinct political style; that populism cannot be understood without considering the role of media; that crises do not just trigger populism, but that populism attempts to trigger crises; and that populism is a global phenomenon. It also identifies future avenues of research that the book has opened up. It closes by considering the future of populism across the globe – specifically arguing that populism is here to stay as a permanent feature of contemporary democratic politics – and why we need to continue to pay attention to populism's changing shape.

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Book SynopsisFor more than a century, no US adversary or coalition of adversaries - not Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, or the Soviet Union - has ever reached sixty percent of US GDP. China is the sole exception, and it is fast emerging into a global superpower that could rival, if not eclipse, the United States. What does China want, does it have a grand strategy to achieve it, and what should the United States do about it?In The Long Game, Rush Doshi draws from a rich base of Chinese primary sources, including decades worth of party documents, leaked materials, memoirs by party leaders, and a careful analysis of China''s conduct to provide a history of China''s grand strategy since the end of the Cold War. Taking readers behind the Party''s closed doors, he uncovers Beijing''s long, methodical game to displace America from its hegemonic position in both the East Asia regional and global orders through three sequential strategies of displacement. Beginning in the 1980s, China focused for two decades on hiding capabilities and biding time. After the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, it became more assertive regionally, following a policy of actively accomplishing something. Finally, in the aftermath populist elections of 2016, China shifted to an even more aggressive strategy for undermining US hegemony, adopting the phrase great changes unseen in century. After charting how China''s long game has evolved, Doshi offers a comprehensive yet asymmetric plan for an effective US response. Ironically, his proposed approach takes a page from Beijing''s own strategic playbook to undermine China''s ambitions and strengthen American order without competing dollar-for-dollar, ship-for-ship, or loan-for-loan.Trade ReviewHighly Recommended * M. G. Roskin, CHOICE *Recent Reviews "the most important book on China in years" - Washington Post, John PomfretOne of the "Best Books of 2021" - Financial Times[Doshi has] meticulously laid bare the Party's methodical advance toward global supremacy. China watchers craving a broad understanding of the Party's geopolitical thought and actions won't be disappointed." - Wall Street Journal, David WilezolAs the US and China slip towards a new cold war, Doshi argues that Beijing is pursuing a long-term plan to displace the US as the world's most powerful nation. The verdict may sound sensationalist, but it is carefully argued and backed by deep research and primary sources." - Financial Times, Gideon Rachman[Doshi] makes his own case powerfully, with reference to an impressive array of highly authoritative Chinese texts" - The EconomistOf all the books to appear on this subject in 2021, this will be the one most closely read….Unlike many other Western writers on Chinese strategy, Doshi draws on a deep knowledge of the CCP's voluminous internal and public deliberations." - The Times Literary Supplement, Niall FergusonWhat does China tell itself about itself? This isn't a rhetorical question. Rush Doshi's The Long Game is a high wattage black light that helps us explore and make sense of China's strategic ambitions to understand their grand strategy." - General CQ Brown, Chief of Staff of the United States Air ForceRush Doshi's landmark new book fills in key gaps in the United States' understanding of China's strategy and what it means for U.S. policy." - The Council on Foreign Relations[A] valuable book…[Doshi] quotes extensively from the often obscure writings and speeches of Chinese leaders and thinkers." - Foreign Affairs, Andrew NathanBrilliant, bracing and empirically rich…It may well turn out to be the one single book that distills both the Chinese approach to the world and the broad contours of Sino-American competition." - The Indian ExpressRush Doshi's account of China's global strategy in The Long Game is a welcome draft of cold air." - Claremont Review of Books-60 pages of painstaking footnotes, many of them quoting internal statements by Communist Party leaders and intellectuals, make it rather compelling." - Reuters, Pete SweeneyOne of the Top Political Books of 2021" - The HillAdvance Praise "The Long Game brings what's been largely missing from debate on US-China relations: historically informed insight into the nature of China's Leninist system and strategy." -Kevin Rudd, President of the Asia Society and former Prime Minister of AustraliaThe Long Game is essential in understanding China's approach to the evolving US-China relationship and global order. Unique in scope and unmatched in substance, Rush Doshi's masterfully researched work describes clearly the economic, political, and military contours of China's strategic approach. The observations, analysis, and recommendations of this superb work must be foundational to any China playbook-business, political, or military." -Admiral Gary Roughead, U.S. Navy (Retired)Using primary sources and crisp analysis, Rush Doshi decodes Beijing's grand strategy of the last three decades. In the process, he exposes the threadbare assumptions that caused countless American policymakers, intelligence analysts, and scholars to misjudge the intentions and capacities of China's rulers. Wishful thinkers, isolationists, and accommodationists will marshal no credible counterarguments to the central findings of this superb book." -Matt Pottinger, Former Deputy National Security Advisor'What does China want?' Rush Doshi makes such a cogent case, based on a wealth of Chinese textual and behavioral evidence, that China's consistent strategy has been to displace the United States that he persuades me to re-examine my view that China's aims are open-ended and malleable. His compelling book should become an instant classic in the China field and required reading for everyone trying to figure out America's own best strategy toward China." -Susan Shirk, Professor and Chair of the 21st Century China Center, University of California-San DiegoA must-read for anyone wrestling with the China Challenge. Doshi's careful analysis of Chinese language documents make a powerful case that China is pursuing a coherent grand strategy to overturn the US-led international order." -Graham Allison, Professor of Government, Harvard Kennedy SchoolDoshi has brilliantly limned a new framework for understanding both the global ambition and the strategic challenges posed by Xi Jinping and his 'wolf warrior diplomacy.' If you're looking for the one book that best illuminates the historical logic of his unrepentant 'China Dream,' The Long Game is it." -Orville Schell, Director, Center on US-China Policy, the Asia SocietyBased on a careful reading of a vast array of Chinese sources, Rush Doshi presents a novel and compelling account of the evolution of Beijing's grand strategy. Doshi argues persuasively that shifts in China's behavior are driven by the Communist Party's collective assessment of trends in the global balance of power rather than by the personalities or preferences of individual leaders. The implications are not reassuring: China's increasingly open and aggressive attempts to displace the US and transform the international system began before Xi Jinping took power and will likely persist after he is gone. This important and insightful book should be required reading for scholars and policymakers alike." -Aaron L. Friedberg, Professor or Politics and International Affairs, Princeton UniversityThe debate over whether China has a strategy to displace American leadership in Asia is over. Now comes the first authoritative account of what that strategy is. Using a vast array of original sources, Rush Doshi does unprecedented forensic work on the origins of Chinese grand strategy and its prospects for success." -Michael J. Green, author of By More than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia-Pacific since 1783If you doubt that China has been pursuing a long-term, comprehensive strategy to achieve global primacy, read Rush Doshi's book. In this brilliant, definitive work, Doshi details the vaulting ambition of Beijing's agenda. Everyone interested in the future of American power and world order should read it now-or weep later." -Hal Brands, Johns Hopkins University and American Enterprise InstituteTable of ContentsChapter 1 - "A Coherent Body of Thought and Action": Defining Grand Strategy Chapter 2 - "The Party Leads Everything": Grand Strategy and the Communist Party Chapter 3 - "New Cold Wars Have Begun": The Traumatic Trifecta and the US Threat Chapter 4 - "Hiding Capabilities and Biding Time": Blunting as China's First Displacement Strategy Chapter 5 - "A Change in the Balance of Power": The Financial Crisis and US Decline Chapter 6 - "Actively Accomplish Something": Building as China's Second Strategy of Displacement Chapter 7 - "A Suit that No Longer Fits": The Global Order and China's Ambitions Chapter 8 - "Towards the World's Center Stage": Global Expansion as China's Third Displacement Strategy Chapter 9 - "An Asymmetric Response": Dealing with Chinese Strategies of Displacement

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Book SynopsisPatriots, Traitors and Empires is an account of modern Korean history, written from the point of view of those who fought to free their country from the domination of foreign empires. It traces the history of Korea’s struggle for freedom from opposition to Japanese colonialism starting in 1905 to North Korea’s current efforts to deter the threat of invasion by the United States or anybody else by having nuclear weapons. Koreans have been fighting a civil war since 1932, when Kim Il Sung, founder of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, along with other Korean patriots, launched a guerrilla war against Japanese colonial domination. Other Koreans, traitors to the cause of Korea’s freedom, including a future South Korean president, joined the side of Japan’s Empire, becoming officers in the Japanese army or enlisting in the hated colonial police force. From early in the 20th century when Japan incorporated Korea into its burgeoning empire, Koreans have struggled against foreign domination, first by Japan then by the United States. Some protests were peaceful; others involved riots, insurrection and sustained guerrilla war. After the US engineered political partition of their country in 1945, the Koreans fought a conventional war, from 1950-1953. Three million gave their lives. When the Japanese Empire collapsed in 1945, Koreans erupted in joy, quickly organizing an independent state, the Korean People’s Republic. Joy turned to bitterness when the US refused to recognize the new republic, and soon declared war on it. Hungering for self-determination, land reform, and an economy directed to local needs, Koreans turned to communists as leaders, who had established great moral authority in the anti-colonial struggle for freedom. They looked to the Soviet Union for inspiration. But a communist Korea, a Korea that handed control of the country’s land, resources, and factories to farmers, cooperatives and state-owned enterprises, clashed with the aspirations of US policy planners, mainly Wall Street lawyers and bankers. The latter sought a world in which US corporations and investors would be free to scour the globe in search of lucrative trade and investment opportunities. Patriots, Traitors and Empires, The Story of Korea’s Struggle for Freedom is a much-needed antidote to the jingoist clamor spewing from all quarters whenever Korea is discussed.Trade Review“Washington’s Long War on Syria is a well-researched and deeply considered analysis of the tragedy that has befallen Syria. Stephen Gowans reveals the political and economic interests that are motivating Washington’s intervention in Syria. No praise is too high for this much-needed corrective to Western propaganda. This fascinating book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the war in Syria.” Gregory Elich is on the Board of Directors of the Jasenovac Research Institute and the Advisory Board of the Korea Policy Institute.“It is always refreshing to read Stephen Gowans. … he does his homework and his writing is well-documented and far from the well-intentioned fluff that litter too many websites. He is careful to situate his subject within its context and he has a good eye for discerning what is important and what is of lesser consequence. These virtues are exemplified by his latest book… Stephen Gowans has written a marvellous and incisive study of modern Korea.” —Tim Beal, author of Crisis in Korea (Pluto Press, 2011)

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Book SynopsisLate in life, William F. Buckley made a confession to Corey Robin. Capitalism is boring, said the founding father of the American right. Devoting your life to it, as conservatives do, is horrifying if only because it''s so repetitious. It''s like sex. With this unlikely conversation began Robin''s decade-long foray into the conservative mind. What is conservatism, and what''s truly at stake for its proponents? If capitalism bores them, what excites them?Tracing conservatism back to its roots in the reaction against the French Revolution, Robin argues that the right is fundamentally inspired by a hostility to emancipating the lower orders. Some conservatives endorse the free market, others oppose it. Some criticize the state, others celebrate it. Underlying these differences is the impulse to defend power and privilege against movements demanding freedom and equality. Despite their opposition to these movements, conservatives favor a dynamic conception of politics and society--one that involves self-transformation, violence, and war. They are also highly adaptive to new challenges and circumstances. This partiality to violence and capacity for reinvention has been critical to their success.Written by a keen, highly regarded observer of the contemporary political scene, The Reactionary Mind ranges widely, from Edmund Burke to Antonin Scalia to Donald Trump, from John C. Calhoun to Ayn Rand. It advances the notion that all right-wing ideologies, from the eighteenth century through today, are historical improvisations on a theme: the felt experience of having power, seeing it threatened, and trying to win it back.When its first edition appeared in fall 2011, The Reactionary Mind set off a fierce debate, in the New York Review of Books, on academic blogs, and throughout the internet. So intense was the controversy that it became the subject of a profile in the New York Times. Now updated to include Trump''s election and the rise of global populism, The Reactionary Mind is more relevant than ever.Trade ReviewAcclaim for The Reactionary Mind:“Robin is an engaging writer, and just the kind of broad-ranging public intellectual all too often missing in academic political science…. Robin's arguments deserve widespread attention." * The New Republic *A very readable romp through the evils of Conservatism." * The Observer *The common opinion on the Left is that conservatives are fire-breathing idiots, who make up in heat what they lack in light. Robin's book is a welcome correction of this simplistic view and puts the debate where it ought to be: on the force and content of conservative ideas." * Dissent *This little book will continue to spark controversy, but that is not the reason to read it: it is a witty, erudite and opinionated account of one of the most significant movements of our times." * Times Higher Education *...written with panache. The series of scholarly strikes Robin makes against conventional wisdom are often exhilarating." * The Daily *The Reactionary Mind is a wonderfully good read. It combines up-to-the-minute relevance with an eye to the intellectual history of conservatism in all its protean forms, going back as far as Hobbes, and taking in not only restrained and sentimental defenders of tradition such as Burke, but his more violent, proto-fascist contemporary Joseph de Maistre. Some readers will enjoy Corey Robin's dismantling of different recent thinkers * Barry Goldwater, Antonin Scalia, Irving Kristol; others will enjoy his demolition of Ayn Rand's intellectual pretensions. Some will be uncomfortable when they discover that those who too lightly endorse state violence, and even officially sanctioned torture, include some of their friends. That is one of the things that makes this such a good book." Alan Ryan, Professor of Political Theory, Oxford University *A fascinating exploration of a central idea: that conservatism is, at its heart, a reaction against democratic challenges, in public and private life, to hierarchies of power and status. Corey Robin leads us through a series of case studies over the last few centuries * from Hobbes to Ayn Rand, from Burke to Sarah Palinshowing the power of this idea by illuminating conservatives both sublime and ridiculous." Kwame Anthony Appiah, Professor of Philosophy, Princeton University *Table of ContentsTK

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide to understanding the complexities of Global Political Economy, emphasising the importance of context and a truly global range of perspectives in analysing global issues.

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Book SynopsisA contemporary companion to C. Wright Mills' landmark work The Power Elite, Heather Gautney provides a fresh critique of elites for the new millennium and an updated, comprehensive look at the structure of American power and its tethers around the world.Trade ReviewBuilding on the rich legacy of Franz Neumann and C. Wright Mills, Heather Gautney's brilliant and courageous book lays bare the complex dynamics of the corporate, political, military, and cultural elites who vacate public life and common good with vast greed and manipulated fear! This powerful and profound text shows what the road to American fascism looks like if we do not heed her call for radical democratic action! * Cornel West, former Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy, Harvard University, Professor Emeritus, Princeton University, and author of Race Matters and Democracy Matters *In this sweeping historical account, Gautney not only details the increasing concentration of power and wealth in the hands of corporate, political, military, and media elites, but also skillfully analyzes the economic and political structures that facilitate this process. This worthy successor to Mills' classic polemic reveals the enormous obstacles that face any project for democracy and equality in the US. * Michael Hardt, author of The Subversive 70s *In the half century since the pioneering sociologist C.W. Mills published The Power Elite, the rulers of this country have grown richer than Midas, more rapacious, more unaccountable even as they've become more hostile to the interests of the general welfare. Now, Heather Gautney gives us a much-needed follow-up study into how the ruling class rules, how it maintains such misery in the midst of extraordinary wealth. Gautney's research should be required reading for all. Make it the one-city-one-book for every town and college in the nation. Hand it out to new citizens at their swearing-in ceremonies. Quickly publish a young-adult version for children. Read it, and act. * Greg Grandin, Peter V. and C. Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University *At a time of extreme wealth inequality and billionaire dominance, Gautney places the critical observations of C. Wright Mills into new historic context. The New Power Elite illuminates, with sociological imagination and insight, the new structures of concentrated wealth and power that have captured our politics, culture, and economy. An essential read for our oligarchic times. * Chuck Collins, Institute for Policy Studies, and author of The Wealth Hoarders *This illuminating volume helps readers understand events from the overthrow of the democratically elected Chilean government in 1973 to the power dynamics and erosion of social norms that set the stage for the January 6 insurrection in the US. * Choice *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: The Power Elite Chapter 1: The State, Part I Chapter 2: The State, Part II Chapter 3: The Military Chapter 4: Wall Street Chapter 5: Billionaires Chapter 6: Celebrity Chapter 7: Publics Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is the most important book by Dutton, a leading scholar on the social dimensions of network technologies. It shows the reconfiguration of power in a multimodal digital communication environment. Essential reading for students, researchers, business leaders, and policymakers. * Manuel Castells, Wallis Annenberg Chair of Communication Technology and Society, University of Southern California *Scholars have spent two decades trying to understand the internet's potential to transform societies. This compelling work, replete with rich examples, moves beyond narrow analysis of individuals, institutions, and innovations to argue for the emergence of a Fifth Estate through which networked individuals capitalize on digital tools to hold those in power to account. Only by understanding this potential can we make best use of it, meaning, ideally, everyone should read this book. * Victoria Nash, Director of the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford *The concept of the Fifth Estate is simple but profound in its implications. In tracing the empowerment of interconnected individuals, Dutton restores lost optimism about the democratic potential of digital media. He provides a balanced analysis of societal trends, individual actions, and alarmist counter-restrictions by established institutions. Dutton's broad perspectives, gems of examples, and clear prose add up to a significant book whose central concept will leave its mark. * Eli Noam, Director of the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, Columbia University *Recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. * Choice *Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Tables List of Boxes Preface Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations and Acronyms Introduction: Reconfiguring Informational and Communicative Power Part I. The Foundations of the Fifth Estate 1. The Idea and Evidence of a Fifth Estate 2. Fifth Estate Theories of Distributed and Network Power Part II. Fifth Estate Strategies 3. Searching 4. Originating 5. Networking 6. Collaborating 7. Leaking Part III. Shaping the Future of the Fifth Estate 8. A Network Power Shift for Democracy and Society 9. Threats to the Fifth Estate 10. The Future of the Fifth Estate Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the electoral successes of anti-system forces in the rich democracies. It explains the rise of anti-system politicians and parties in terms of two separate but closely related developments: the rise of economic inequality and insecurity over the last four decades, and the failure of technocratic elites to address them.Trade ReviewJonathan Hopkin offers a well-researched book which identifies connections between the anti-system politics in the United States, Britain, Greece, Spain and Italy. He finds there is a clear divide in how Northern and Southern Europe express their forms of anti-system politics. But he demonstrates how they both have common threads which tie them into a common zeitgeist which has affected the Western political tradition. This is quite an accomplishment. * Jonathan Hopkin, Democracy Paradox *Table of ContentsIntroduction The New World Order: The End of Social Democracy and the Rise of the Liberal Cartel The Failure of the Liberal Cartel: The Political Consequences of the Financial Crisis of 2008 Varieties of Anti-System Politics The Implications of Anti-System Politics: Nationalism, Socialism, Participation

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Book SynopsisA complete guide for how small states can be strikingly successful and influential--if they assess their situations and adapt their strategies.Small states are crucial actors in world politics. Yet, they have been relegated to a second tier of International Relations scholarship. In A Small State''s Guide to Influence in World Politics, Tom Long shows how small states can identify opportunities and shape effective strategies to achieve their foreign policy goals. To do so, Long puts small states'' relationships at the center of his approach. Although small states are defined by their position as materially weaker actors vis-a-vis large states, Long argues that this condition does not condemn them to impotence or irrelevance. Drawing on typological theory, Long builds an explanation of when and how small states might achieve their goals. The book assesses a global range of cases-both successes and failures-and offers a set of tools for scholars and policymakers to understand how varying international conditions shape small states'' opportunities for influence.Trade ReviewTom Long's A Small State's Guide to Influence in World Politics is a trail-blazing effort to build new theory in the discipline of small state studies -- as persuasive in its conceptual development as it is dazzling in the genuine internationalism of its case studies ... the rich theorisation in this book is a watershed moment that has significantly advanced our theoretical study of the strategies of small states. * Hillary Briffa, The Hague Journal of Diplomacy *Building on his seminal 2015 work, Latin America Confronts the United States, Long persuasively presses his case that smaller states, with creative leadership, can often successfully defend their national interests in contests with bigger ones. * Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs *Long persuasively presses his case that smaller states, with creative leadership, can often successfully defend their national interests in contests with bigger ones. He urges his scholarly colleagues to redefine international relations studies by stretching beyond the interactions of great powers to focus on the many smaller states that light up the geopolitical firmament. * Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs *[A]gainst the aims it sets for itself - to outline and demonstrate the significance of a relational approach to the study of small states that starts from the position of asymmetry and is global in coverage - A Small State's Guide to Influence in World Politics succeeds remarkably. It should be warmly received and become a touchstone text for anybody interested in how the majority of the world's states engage in international affairs. * Prof. Jack Corbett, The Round Table *Tom Long has written an invaluable primer for policy makers and diplomats in small states and scholars of International Relations. He offers a new methodological approach to navigating the asymmetries of inter-state relations, based on exhaustive research, a fairly comprehensive bibliography and a wide-ranging examination of relevant case studies. From a Caribbean perspective, I would have preferred that he had referenced the writings of Shridath Ramphal and Ronald Sanders, but this should not detract from the quality of his research, which is a major contribution to small state diplomacy and IR theory. * Riyad Insanally, Former Ambassador of Guyana to the USA and the Organization of American States *Written with clarity and rigour, this is a must-read book for anyone who wants to understand how and why small states fail or succeed in world politics. * Anders Wivel, Professor of International Relations, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen *Based on IR theory and grounded in small states scholarship, this book provides an innovative integrated account of small states strategies to deal with constraints and opportunities they face in world politics. The comprehensive theoretical argument is illustrated by a series of compelling short case studies. This timely book is a must-read for scholars and practitioners alike. * Diana Panke, Chair of Multi-level Governance, University of Freiburg (Germany) *Most books on small states tend to detail a particular issue or the external behavior of states in one region. This book is a remarkable attempt to go beyond this by analyzing the entire spectrum of small states-European as well as in the developing world. Long does this by formulating a detailed pre-theoretical framework through which small state influence attempts can be impartially assessed. The book is notable for both its attention to careful theorizing, as well as the breadth of cases drawn on in support of the author's thesis. Anyone interested in the security and economic behavior of small states will find much to ponder theoretically, and much to draw on descriptively. This book is an important addition to the small-state literature and it deserves to be widely read. * Jacqueline-Braveboy-Wagner, City University of New York *The book defines, theorizes and investigates small states in the context of these unequal relationships, between a small state and a great power...the book is essential reading for those interested in small states and political power. * Sarina Theys, International Affairs *Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Small States, Big World Chapter 3: Opportunities and constraints: Conditions for success Chapter 4: Playing small ball: Strategies for success Chapter 5: Security Chapter 6: International Political Economy Chapter 7: Institutions, law, and norms Chapter 8: Conclusion Appendix Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn Our Own Worst Enemy, Tom Nichols challenges the current depictions of the rise of illiberal and anti-democratic movements in the United States and elsewhere as the result of the deprivations of globalization or the malign decisions of an undifferentiated "elite." Rather, he argues that too many of us have succumbed to a toxic cocktail of growing narcissism and increasing expectations fueled by affluence, peace, and a connected global culture, which inturn are exploited by political entrepreneurs who encourage reinforcing cycles of perceived relative deprivation, political alienation, unvirtuous political (and social) behavior, and who provide targets for subsequent bouts of unfocused rage.Trade ReviewWhile democracy does battle with other political ideologies—fascism, communism, socialism—its most difficult battle is always with itself, the inherent contradiction that is both its greatest strength and most glaring vulnerability. The challenges we face in the 21st century are of a different magnitude, but rooted in this central truth: Democracy takes work. Tom Nichols' outstanding book is where we begin. * Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media *Maybe it's not imaginary conspiracies but rather our own failures—moral, intellectual, political—that are leading Americans to support incompetent, inarticulate and even authoritarian politicians. That's the thesis that Tom Nichols argues amusingly and persuasively in this book before concluding that reform must begin from within. * Anne Applebaum, staff writer for The Atlantic, and author of Twilight of Democracy *Nichols has nailed the problem that ails our democracies - and it is us: The narcissism, self-indulgence and nostalgia that come from a society in which the depth of our pockets are matched by the shallowness of our minds. Nichols neither gives into despair nor falls for simplistic solutions. He offers a wise, acute and unblinking measure of our failings—and the glimpse of a way out. * Edward Luce, S national editor and columnist, Financial Times, and author of The Retreat of Western Liberalism *The eloquent jeremiad, that brilliant form of lamentation, is alive and well in the able hands of Tom Nichols. You don't have to agree with him on everything to appreciate his deep commitment to liberal democracy, his horror in the face of authoritarian demagoguery, and his call on democratic citizens to embrace knowledge and virtue. Nichols is that rarest of creatures, a happy scold who believes that deep down, even we terribly flawed human beings are capable of aspiring to higher purposes. * E. J. Dionne Jr, author of Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country *Taking freedom and democracy for granted is a fatal mistake. Our Own Worst Enemy explains why even the greatest nation on Earth isn't immune to the destructive effects of cynicism and ignorance. It is both a history lesson and a sharp examination of painful recent events. The forces of illiberalism are on the rise, and it's not clear that liberal democracy is up to the challenge. This book makes the essential case that ignoring politics is a luxury the citizens of the free world can no longer afford. Being a successful chessplayer requires understanding yourself and your own decision-making process. As Tom Nichols demonstrates in Our Own Worst Enemy, it turns out that's also required to be a successful country. America has enough enemies without turning on itself. * Garry Kasparov, Chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative, author of Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped, and the former world chess champion *There are few silver linings to the monstrous transformation of the American right: one has been discovering the stalwart minority of decent, intelligent, honest conservatives who fiercely and absolutely reject the party of Trump—such as Tom Nichols. Our Own Worst Enemy is his thoughtful and thought-provoking diagnosis of our urgent democratic crises, which provided me the important pleasure of enjoying, learning from, and arguing with it. * Kurt Andersen, author of Evil Geniuses and Fantasyland *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: Our Own Worst Enemy 1. A Hunger for Apocalypse: The Perils of Peace and Plenty 2. The Nicest People You'll Ever Dislike: When Good Neighbors Are Bad Citizens 3. "Is There No Virtue among Us?" Democracy in an Age of Rage and Resentment 4. System Failure? Human Suffering and the Case against Liberal Democracy 5. Hello, I Hate You: How Hyper-Connection Is Destroying Democracy Conclusion: Is There a Road Back? Notes Index

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Book SynopsisAround the world, faith in democracy is falling. Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela have moved from flawed democracies to authoritarian regimes. Brexit and the rise of far-right parties show that even stable Western democracies are struggling. Partisanship and mutual distrust are increasing. What, if anything, should we do about these problems? In this accessible work, leading philosophers Jason Brennan and Hélène Landemore debate whether the solution lies in having less democracy or more. Brennan argues that democracy has systematic flaws, and that democracy does not and cannot work the way most of us commonly assume. He argues the best solution is to limit democracy''s scope and to experiment with certain voting systems that can overcome democracy''s problems. Landemore argues that democracy, defined as a regime that distributes power equally and inclusively, is a better way to generate good governance than oligarchies of knowledge. To her, the crisis of representative democracy comes in large part from its glaring democratic deficits. The solution is not just more democracy, but a better kind, which Landemore theorizes as open democracy.Trade ReviewBrennan, in particular, is quite good at presenting complex ideas in a straightforward, accessible way. He uses examples well to explain the real costs of giving equal power to people with unequal knowledge, as in the case of Brexit. Landemore...presents thought--provoking suggestions, such as the increased use of randomly selected citizen assemblies. Both authors, from their very different perspectives, present intriguing ideas about how people might influence decision--making other than through the representative systems Americans are used to. * J. Heyrman, Berea College, CHOICE *Could democracy be a mistake? Since it gives an equal vote to the wise and the irrational alike, how well can it really be expected to perform? Couldn't experts do better, and on such momentous matters shouldn't we go for the best? This challenge is traditional, but also currently hot inside and outside academia. As against some others Jason Brennan and Hélène Landemore agree on the problem's fundamental importance, but from there much else is up for debate. As two leading contributors to the lively literature on these questions, Brennan and Landemore deliver a vividly written introduction that will appeal to students, and a cutting-edge debate of importance to scholars as well. * David Estlund, Lombardo Family Professor of Philosophy, Brown University *The future of democracy is one of the great issues of our time. In Debating Democracy, two of the world's leading experts on the subject debate whether the cure for democracy's ills is more democracy – as Helene Landemore argues – or whether we instead need tighter constraints on the power of democratic majorities, as Jason Brennan contends. Both defend their respective positions with great insight and skill. Scholars and laypeople alike can learn much from this outstanding work. It's hard to imagine a more timely book than this one! * Ilya Somin, Professor of Law, George Mason University *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Brennan - Democracy without Romance Chapter 1. How Real Democracy Really Works Chapter 2. Is the Solution More Democracy? Chapter 3. Democracy: Less Is More Chapter 4. Alternatives to Democracy Part II: Landemore - Let's Try Real Democracy Chapter 5. The Argument for Democracy Chapter 6. Objections Chapter 7. Against Epistemocracies Chapter 8. If Democracy Is Such a Smart Regime, Why Are Democracies Doing So Poorly at the Moment and How Can We Fix Them? Part III: Responses by Jason Brennan and Hélène Landemore Chapter 9. A Response to Brennan Chapter 10. A Response to Landemore

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAmerican policymakers are addicted to threatening and using military force to get their way with other countries. Toft and Kushi provide an abundance of data that show how the United States has become more militaristic and more ruthless over the course of its history. Dying by the Sword is a must read for anyone interested in understanding how Washington operates on the world stage. * John J. Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, the University of Chicago *Drawing on a thorough analysis of all America's wars since its foundation (and there have been many) this is a sobering and vigorous critique, warning against American exceptionalism and overdependence on armed force. * Sir Lawrence Freedman is the Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London *In Dying by the Sword, Monica Toft and Sidita Kushi document and analyze what has become the constant use of US military force abroad. Noting the United States' vague military and political objectives and the range of indifferent successes to catastrophic failures of these military interventions, the authors make a crucial contribution to the study of war, the use of the military tool for political ends, and U.S. foreign policy. * Jacqueline Hazelton, Executive Editor of International Security, and former Associate Professor of Strategy and Policy, the US Naval War College *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: America the Expander Chapter 2: America the Western Hegemon Chapter 3: America the Hesitant Helper Chapter 4: America the Leader of the Free World Chapter 5: America the Unipolar Hegemon Chapter 6: America the Unleashed Chapter 7: America the Lost?

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Book SynopsisA fresh assessment of Catholic integralism and other new and radical religious alternatives to liberal democracy.According to a common narrative, the twentieth century spelled the end of faith-infused political movements. Their ideologies, like Catholic integralism, would soon be forgotten. Humans were finally learning to keep religion out of politics. Or were we? In the twenty-first century, nations as diverse as Russia, India, Poland, and Turkey have seen a revival of religious politics, and many religious movements in other countries have proved similarly resilient. A new generation of political theologians passionately reformulate ancient religious doctrines to revolutionize modern political life. They insist that states recognize the true religion, and they reject modern liberal ideals of universal religious freedom and church-state separation. In this book, philosopher Kevin Vallier explores these new doctrines, not as lurid oddities but as though they might be true. The anti-libTrade ReviewThis splendid book has something for everyone. For religious conservatives who question the separation of church and state, Vallier offers compelling arguments against their integration, drawing from Catholic theology, Church history, and considerations of social stability. For liberals, Vallier offers a bracing view of a powerful current stream of anti-liberal thought that should shatter any complacency about taking liberal political assumptions for granted. For people of all religious and political orientations, Vallier offers a rigorous method for assessing political proposals that does not presuppose liberal principles, but can serve as a basis for all to engage each other in serious discussion. In our politically polarized age, that is a major achievement." Elizabeth Anderson, Max Shaye Professor of Public Philosophy, University of MichiganKevin Vallier thoughtfully makes the case against post-liberal political doctrines, focusing on Catholic integralism. But he also pursues reconciliation with conservatives through his striking proposal for non-liberal charter cities within the framework of a liberal state. This book is a daring and original effort to adapt liberal political theory to a post-liberal era." Yoram Hazony, author of Conservatism: A RediscoveryIntegralism holds that state coercion is to be used to forward a religion's vision of the supernatural good. It is deeply statist and deeply illiberal; and, yet, it arguably follows from the teachings of Roman Catholicism. In All the Kingdoms of the World, Kevin Vallier does the great service of taking this position seriously-of presenting it with care, so that its attractions are plain. He also does the great service of showing why it nevertheless profoundly fails in its own terms as an account of a just, stable political order and how its failure provides lessons for the prospects of other emerging anti-liberal statisms. The book is intellectually invigorating, theoretically rigorous, and politically timely. I am grateful that it was written, and that it was Vallier who wrote it!" Mark C. Murphy, McDevitt Professor of Religious Philosophy, Georgetown UniversityThis is an excellent and important book, starting with its defense of classical liberalism over Catholic integralism and indeed illiberalism more generally...likely to be one of this year's books that turns out to really matter. * Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution *All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism is a seminal and ground-breaking work of meticulous scholarship. Impressively exceptional in organization and presentation, All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism will have a special relevance and value for readers with an interest in the history of religion and politics, as well as being especially recommended for Church/State curriculum studies lists. Highly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collections. * John Taylor, MBR Bookwatch *A fantastic book - an intellectual feast. * Kaushik Basu, Carl Marks Professor of International Studies, Cornell University, and former Chief Economist of the World Bank *The book is a response to the unexpected return of integralism as a political option, but it is also a reflection on what kind of society enables goodness...Vallier's book succeeds in revealing the dangerous flaws of integralism, but he offers few reasons to believe that liberalism has the resources to address the major social challenges we face today. * Terence Sweeney, The Commonweal *

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Book SynopsisThe Death and Life of State Repression addresses a problem that dates back at least 75 years, if not before. Since World War II, individuals and institutions from around the world have been concerned with state repression/human rights violations and since about 1990, a robust empirical literature has emerged to investigate what drives this behavior up or down (i.e., exploring variation). While useful, this work has generally ignored important aspects of the Death/Life cycle of state repression: i.e., its onset, escalation, termination and recurrence. Such an approach is important because different explanations and policies might be relevant for different parts of the cycle. Exploring a new database of repressive spells from 1976-2006 and new theory regarding spells, The Death and Life of State Repression breaks new ground in a variety of different ways. The book argues that repression is a sticky process that is largely slow-moving and non-adaptive. Consequently, change in this behavior is rare unless the ruling cohort is perturbed in some manner. What perturbs is somewhat surprising. The authors do not argue or find support for the predominant variables/policies advanced by the international community (i.e., naming/shaming, international law, military intervention and economic sanctions). Rather, their research advances and finds that political democratization plays a crucial role in reducing and stopping most aspects of repressive spells, and democratization itself is influenced by non-violent direct action. The book has major implications for those who wish to study state repression, as well as those who have an interest in trying to reduce and stop it from occurring across the Death/Life cycle. The path to less repressive behavior has never been clearer.Trade ReviewThis book is a comprehensive, ambitious, and sober analysis of the life cycles of large-scale spells of state repression. Most importantly, Davenport and Appell find that domestic politics—not international politics—are the most crucial in curtailing the onset, escalation, and persistence of state repression. For all its imperfections, democracy tends to prevent a state from initiating mass violence, and nonviolent civil resistance tends to prevent such repression from escalating. This book upends much of what we thought we knew about state repression--and what can be done to stop it. A must-read. * Erica Chenoweth, Harvard University *Christian Davenport is the world's leading scholar of state repression and has made a great team with Benjamin Appel. The Death and Life of State Repression is an instant classic. It analyzes the correlates of entire spells of repression - how they start, how they end, and, importantly, how they escalate. Using new data, rigorous methods, deep case knowledge, and unparalleled creativity, Davenport and Appel show that there is no one-way, linear relationship between democratization and different forms of human rights violations. While democratization processes can reduce state repression, they can in turn be shaped by the legacies of repressive practices and by the interventions that try to end them. Their book has implications for the broader literature on democratization and will be the standard against which all subsequent contributions in the repression literature are measured. * Nicholas Sambanis, University of Pennsylvania *The Death and Life of State Repression provides academics with an insightful and perceptive analysis that should fundamentally reconceptualize the study of large-scale human rights abuses, while offering governments and activists new insights into how to reverse such atrocities. A tour de force by Christian Davenport, one of the world's deepest thinkers on political violence, and Benjamin Appel. * Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld, Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict and Governance, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace *This book represents a tour de force that is a must-read for all interested in stopping state repression—from scholars, to policymakers, activists, and the general public. The authors offer a new ontology of repression to study its onset, escalation, duration, and recurrence. They then meticulously examine the influence of a full range of domestic and international factors that have been proposed to curtail repression. Their sobering findings reveal that not much has helped, but there is hope, and we can do better. Indeed, the book offers a path forward to understand exactly how we can better protect people from the most vicious forms of state repression. * James Raymond Vreeland, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University *Table of Contents1. Preface 2. Introduction 3. Old and New Directions in the Study of State Repression 4. Studying Spells: A New Unit of Analysis, Measure, and Model 5. Starting Spells 6. Escalating Spells 7. Ending Spells 8. Recurring Spells 9. Cases 10. What We Can Do Better A. Robustness Checks B. Endogeneity Concerns

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Book SynopsisA fast-paced, gripping history of meddling, manipulation, and skulduggery among great power rivalsIn 2016, the United States was stunned by evidence of Russian meddling in the US presidential elections. But it shouldn''t have been. Subversion--domestic interference to undermine or manipulate a rival--is as old as statecraft itself. The basic idea would have been familiar to Sun Tzu, Thucydides, Elizabeth I, or Bismarck. Russia''s operation was just the latest episode, and there will be more to come.It came as a surprise in 2016 because the sole superpower had fallen asleep at the wheel. But what''s really new? Have we entered a new age of vulnerability? To answer these questions, and to protect ourselves against future subversion, we need a clear-eyed understanding of what it is and how it works.In A Measure Short of War, Jill Kastner and William C. Wohlforth provide just that, taking the reader on a compelling ride through the history of subversion, exploring two thousand years of mis

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive and authoritative introduction to China''s political history, contemporary political system, and key policy areas, such as the environment, population management, and public health.Politics in China is an authoritative introduction to how the world''s second most populous nation and rapidly rising global power is governed today. Written by leading China scholars, each chapter offers an accessible overview of a key topic in Chinese politics. The opening section provides readers with a firm grounding in China''s modern political history, covering the decline and fall of the last imperial dynasty and the rise to power of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the radicalism of the era of Mao Zedong (1949-76), the dramatic economic reforms carried out by Deng Xiaoping and his disciples (1978 to 2012) and the era of Xi Jinping (2012-present), who has consolidated more personal power than any CCP leader since Mao.The next section sets the framework of politics in the People''s Republic of China (PRC) with chapters on the ideology of the CCP, the structure and dynamics of the political system, the role of law and legal reform, and the policies behind the country''s spectacular economic transformation. The book then shifts to a discussion of a series of major political issues in China today: reform and resistance in the countryside; changes and challenges in the cities; the arts and culture; the environment and climate change; public health; population policy; and internet politics. The final chapters of the book covers politics in four important areas located on China''s geographic periphery: Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.The fourth edition of Politics in China has been thoroughly updated and includes a new chapter on the rise and rule of Xi Jinping. It is essential reading not only for students studying the PRC, but also for any reader interested in learning how China has evolved in recent times, how its political system works, and about the most important challenges it faces in years ahead.

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Book SynopsisA powerful new explanation of China''s rise that draws from the business world to show that China is not simply copying established great powers, but exploiting geopolitical opportunities around the world that those other powers had ignored. Thirty years ago, the idea that China could challenge the United States economically, globally, and militarily seemed unfathomable. Yet today, China is considered another great power in the international system. How did China manage to build power, from a weaker resource position, in an international system that was dominated by the U.S.? What factors determined the strategies Beijing pursued to achieve this feat? Using elite interviews, granular data, and authoritative Chinese sources, Oriana Skylar Mastro demonstrates that China was able to climb to great power status through a careful mix of strategic emulation, exploitation, and entrepreneurship on the international stage. This upstart approach determined by where and how China chose to compete allowed China to rise economically, politically, and militarily, without triggering a catastrophic international backlash that would stem its rise. China emulated (i.e. pursued similar strategies to the U.S. in similar areas) when its leaders thought doing so would build power, while reassuring the U.S. of its intentions. China exploited (i.e. adopted similar approaches to the U.S. in new areas of competition) when China felt that the overall U.S. strategy was effective, but didn''t want to risk direct confrontation. Lastly, China pursued entrepreneurial actions (i.e. innovative approaches to new and existing areas of competition) when it believed emulation might elicit a negative reaction and a more effective approach was available. Beyond explaining the unique nature of China''s rise, Upstart: How China became a Great Power provides policy guidance on how the U.S. can maintain a competitive edge in this new era of great power competition.

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