Geopolitics Books

Book SynopsisWe no longer inhabit a world governed by international coordination, a unified NATO bloc, or an American hegemon. Traditionally, the decline of one empire leads to a restoration in the balance of power, via a struggle among rival systems of order. Yet this dynamic is surprisingly absent today; instead, the superpowers have all, at times, sought to promote what Jason Pack terms the 'Enduring Disorder'. He contends that Libya's ongoing conflict--more so than the civil wars in Yemen, Syria, Venezuela or Ukraine--constitutes the ideal microcosm in which to identify the salient features of this new era of geopolitics. The country's post-Qadhafi trajectory has been moulded by the stark absence of coherent international diplomacy; while Libya's incremental implosion has precipitated cross-border contagion, further corroding global institutions and international partnership. Pack draws on over two decades of research in and on Libya and Syria to highlight the Kafkaesque aspects of today's global affairs. He shows how even the threats posed by the Arab Spring, and the Benghazi assassination of US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, couldn't occasion a unified Western response. Rather, they have further undercut global collaboration, demonstrating the self-reinforcing nature of the progressively collapsing world order.Trade Review‘This book contains fresh thinking, real insight, and gems of knowledge throughout… Pack’s per­ceptive analysis raises valid questions about the nature of the contemporary international era and the ability of the world to resolve the issues faced.’ -- The Middle East Journal'Provides invaluable insights not only into the specificity of Libya, but also larger trends across the MENA region.' -- Inside Arabia‘Incisive, academic, and witty, Jason Pack pulls no punches in his sharp critique of the so-called “international community”.’ -- Stephanie Williams, former acting UN Envoy for Libya‘Libya and the Global Enduring Disorder is your authoritative guide through the dense complexity of post-Qadhafi Libya, as well as the intricate, self-serving world of Libya policy in Washington. ... A must-read for anyone in Western capitals serious about understanding Libya.’ -- Julian Borger, World Affairs Editor, The Guardian‘Candid, opinionated, by turns gossipy and scholarly, Jason Pack delivers a lively and provocative assessment of the state of the current global system. Pack’s ... portrayal of the consequences of today’s global disorder on Libya is a powerful illustration of his argument–and a devastating indictment of the “international community”.’ -- Lisa Anderson, former president of The American University of Cairo‘Essential reading, not only for scholars of the Middle East, but for all those who are interested in understanding today’s changing international system.’ -- Peter Millett, former British ambassador to Libya (2015–18)‘A must-read book for anyone interested in understanding how global organisations have become paralysed in the twenty-first century.’ -- Rupert Wieloch, Senior British Military Commander in Libya (2011–12)‘Brilliantly enriched by the author’s reflections on his many direct experiences transacting business and undertaking research in key areas of the geopolitical chessboard–thus adding a high degree of originality, nuance, and readability.’ -- Karim Mezran, Director of the North Africa Initiative and Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council‘An essential contribution to the literature on post-revolutionary Libya.’ -- Tim Eaton, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House

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Book Synopsis'These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world,' said Charlie Wilson, of America's role backing the anti-Soviet mujahideen. 'And then we fucked up the endgame.' With no support for Afghanistan after that war, the vacuum was filled by the Taliban and bin Laden. 'The Ledger' assesses the West's similarly failed approach to Afghanistan after 9/11--in military, diplomatic, political and developmental terms. Dr David Kilcullen and Dr Greg Mills are uniquely placed to reflect backwards and forwards on the Afghan conflict: they worked with the international mission both as advisers and within the Arg, and they have considerable experience of counterinsurgency and stabilisation operations elsewhere in the world. Here these two experts show that there is plenty of blame to go around when explaining the failure to bring peace to Afghanistan after 9/11. The signs of collapse were conveniently ignored, in favour of political narratives of progress and success. Yet for Afghans, the war and its geopolitical effects are not over because NATO is gone--Afghanistan remains globally connected through digital communications and networks. This vital book explains why and where failings in Afghanistan happened, warning against exceptionalist approaches to future peacebuilding missions around the globe.Trade Review'[The Ledger] is a clear-eyed analysis made with the surgical precision of two insiders who saw, firsthand, the legion of small ways that the war was lost when it could have been won.' -- The Sunday Times‘A failure to understand the ties that bind Afghanistan and its people underpins the west’s 20-year struggle there, a history whose first draft is masterfully captured in The Ledger.’ -- Financial Times'The Ledger is not a book of dread and sensationalism. It is a cool and forensic dissection of what a disaster the search for Al-Qaeda following the attack on their Afghan hosts, the Taliban, was to become. […] More than a mere polemic, this is a fine book.' -- The Scotsman'[Written] by authors with deep knowledge and great expertise in their subjects, The Ledger [is] very useful in understanding how we got where we are.' -- The Independent

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Book SynopsisThe last four decades have been shaped by the rise of Islamist politics across significant swathes of the globe. Whether by gun or by ballot box, various Islamist movements--from as far and wide as the Malian desert and Indonesia’s archipelagos--have sought to obtain power and govern territories, in a bid to revive an Islamic ancien régime. With the regional privations produced by the ‘War on Terror’ and the political unrest following 2011’s Arab uprisings, the global march of Islamism has only accelerated in the twenty-first century. Building on an established literature on rebel governance, 'The Rule is for None but Allah' examines fifteen cases from around the world to consider the different ways Islamists have approached and implemented governance; the challenges they have faced; and how they have responded to obstacles. It brings new detail and insights on a wide range of themes, including legitimacy, constitutionality and social-welfare activism. From the rise and fall of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, to Islamic State’s attempts to create its own currency, to the dramatic return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, this edited volume from two leading scholars of contemporary terrorism assembles an enviable array of international experts to explore these pressing issues.Trade Review'A valuable contribution to the broader debate on Islam and politics as well as to the study of governance.' -- Manara Magazine'"The Rule is for None but Allah" focusses on one of the most relevant issues in terrorism and Middle Eastern studies: governance. The contributors are a refreshingly interesting and heterogenous mix. I cannot think of another book that covers so much ground.' -- Lorenzo Vidino, Director of the Program on Extremism, George Washington University, and author of 'The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West''One of the most comprehensive and informative studies of Islamist governance to date, with fifteen rich case studies from around the world. The diverse authors persuasively demonstrate the importance of social welfare and justice for the legitimacy of state and non-state actors.' -- Mara Revkin, Associate Professor of Law, Duke University'Containing numerous compelling and fascinating case studies, this is an important contribution to the study of Islamist governance. Engaging, ambitious and well written.' -- Raphaël Lefèvre, Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford, and author of 'Jihad in the City''A fresh take on Islamist perspectives, this volume brings together case studies ranging from the Taliban to the Muslim Brotherhood. By looking at how groups emerge and pursue constitutional means, it provides innovative knowledge on Islamists' evolving strategic aims.' -- Gillian Kennedy, Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Southampton, and author of 'From Independence to Revolution: Egypt's Islamists and the Contest for Power'

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a comprehensive, detailed analysis of the establishment, evolution and current significance of different institutions in today's Islamic Republic of Iran. The volume draws on the insights of a number of Iran experts to examine their establishment, functions and evolution, as a means of understanding Iranian politics and society. 'The Sacred Republic's' specific focus is on the key formal institutions of the state through which the Islamic Republic exercises power, namely the 'velayat-e faqih': the judiciary, the presidency, the parliament, elections, the Revolutionary Guards, and the foreign policy establishment. Despite significant work on Iranian politics in recent decades, few studies have focused on state institutions, their resilience, or the reasons for and manner of institutional change. Through historical institutionalism and comparative historical analysis, the contributors to this book together fill a glaring gap in the study of Iran's political institutions, offering significant insights for the theoretical literature on comparative politics, Middle Eastern politics, and Iranian Studies.Trade Review'An outstanding collection of studies by first-rate scholars, and a must-read for anyone who wants to unpack the political life of the Islamic Republic. Well-written and engaging, each chapter offers unique insights into how today's Iran is governed.' -- Alex Vatanka, Director of the Iran Program, Middle East Institute'Focusing on a thus far rather neglected topic, Mehran Kamrava has brought together an impressive array of experts and this magnificent book represents the best scholarship in a new and important field.' -- Stephanie Cronin, Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Research Fellow, University of Oxford'This important volume ably deciphers how the interplay of elite fragmentation, political participation and external pressure has shaped the increasing tilt toward centralisation of power in post-revolution Iran.' -- Farideh Farhi, Independent Scholar'Delving into the origins and dynamics of the Islamic Republic's complex constellation of state institutions, this is required reading for students and specialists of not just Iranian and area studies, but also revolution, state-building and institutionalism more broadly.' -- Eric Lob, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, Florida International University

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Book SynopsisVladimir Putin's first invasion of Ukraine, in 2014, set off a global economic clash, as the West used its clout with international markets to deter and penalise the Kremlin. The battlelines of this 'war by other means' traversed a series of deep economic connections, built up during Russia's oil, gas and commodities boom: global equity and capital markets, and transnational kleptocracy. Maximilian Hess's startling book lifts the lid on Russia's response to Western sanctions, and the ensuing skirmishes in London's courts, on Swiss trading desks and in boardrooms in New Delhi. He explores how pipelines, mines, loans and crypto-markets were weaponised. This narrative sets the stage for Putin's all-out assault on Kyiv in February 2022, which turned financial, food and fuel markets into bona fide battlefields, bringing the fight into everyone's home, from Pennsylvania to Pakistan. Rather than a 'new Cold War', we are witnessing a conflict over finance, energy and capital markets. How such economic warfare turns out will determine the future of liberalism and democracy; it will also set a precedent for economic relations between the West and China, as the two diverge into rival spheres of influence and power.Trade Review'Hess examines how Russia’s response to the west’s economic sanctions following the first invasion of Ukraine in 2014 helped to set the stage for [the current] conflict.' * Financial Times *‘Much has been said about Putin’s background in the KGB, but Hess makes a convincing case that his days in the St. Petersburg government, when he served as a liaison between the city, foreign business and, occasionally, criminal underworld, were just as formative.’ -- The Washington Post'Timely.' -- Diplomatic Courier, '15 Books to Look Forward to in 2023'‘An accessible but detailed account of the economic war between Russia and the West.’ -- Informed Comment‘A welcome addition to a growing body of research on Russia’s invasions of Ukraine.’ -- CHOICE'An outstanding account, filled with insights and details. If you want to understand why we are already in an age of Global Conflict, there is no better place to start.' -- Peter Frankopan, author of 'The Silk Roads' and 'The Earth Transformed''A critical book for understanding Russia's war against Ukraine and the West's response. Tracing Russia's tactics of economic warfare across the world, from Beijing to Istanbul, from Caracas to London's bond markets, this is the most detailed and far-reaching analysis of the economic war with Russia yet.' -- Chris Miller, author of 'Chip War''Economic War shows how trade, finance, and information are the new battlegrounds in a world where traditional warfare is becoming obsolete. A unique perspective on the largest crisis in Europe since the Cold War, this is a must-read for anyone seeking a better understanding of the conflict, and its implications for global politics.' -- Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, former Chief International Correspondent, CNBC'From sanctions to bonds of war, Economic War is an essential guide to how a decade of conflict between Russia and Ukraine has redrawn the global economic order.' -- Jack Farchy, co-author of 'The World for Sale'

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Penang Book Prize 2019 Nusantaria – often referred to as ‘Maritime Southeast Asia’ – is the world’s largest archipelago and has, for centuries, been a vital cultural and trading hub. Nusantara, a Sanskrit, then Malay, word referring to an island realm, is here adapted to become Nusantaria - denoting a slightly wider world but one with a single linguistic, cultural and trading base. Nusantaria encompasses the lands and shores created by the melting of the ice following the last Ice Age. These have long been primarily the domain of the Austronesian-speaking peoples and their seafaring traditions. The surrounding waters have always been uniquely important as a corridor connecting East Asia to India, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. In this book, Philip Bowring provides a history of the world’s largest and most important archipelago and its adjacent coasts. He tells the story of the peoples and lands located at this crucial maritime and cultural crossroads, from its birth following the last Ice Age to today.Trade ReviewThis fast-paced book by a respected journalist describes how the islands and coastal territories of Southeast Asia have consistently been a crucial element in world history … The book is a good corrective to global histories that tend to study the world from a European- or Sino-centered perspective … [It] brings forward a lively story about how trade, religion, and culture crossed many boundaries, including oceans, from earliest recorded history, centrally involving the islands and coastal territories of Southeast Asia. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE *Bowring, in a remarkable display of taut writing, whisks us through the archipelago’s geological eruption and mythic floods to the rise and fall of multiple port states and emerging regional dynasties and into the modern era of disruption, decay and dismemberment in less than 300 pages. At the same time, he does a wonderful demolition job on Beijing’s self-serving take on Asian history. * South China Morning Post *[Bowring] writes this rich and rambling history as in fact a narrative of change and renewal … It is not easy to convince policymakers that history might be the place to look for solutions, yet we have nowhere else to turn to imagine what might yet be possible. * Literary Review *Beautifully presented with numerous informative maps, excellent illustrations and a very useful glossary, it is both a fascinating read and a very valuable history of one of the world’s most important regions. * Baird Maritime *A fascinating book ... packed with names, dates and events as Asia's Great Archipelago is packed with islands—well over 30,000 on anyone's count ... An important and timely book ... [For the general reader] who is looking to better understand a complex and pivotal region of the modern world, Empire of the Winds is a must-read. * Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society *Rich in detail, and laced with vivid anecdotes ... Bowring notes that Nusantaria is just as vulnerable to climate change as it was after the Ice Age ... will the book's excellent maps of Nusantaria have to be drawn again? * The Correspondent *This hardcover book is handsomely produced with a beautiful dust jacket showing fine Nusantarian galleys in the Moluccas, recorded during the Louis de Freycinet expedition of 1817–20. It’s a volume that offers readers a deeper understanding of the vibrant maritime peoples and events that unfolded literally on Australia’s tropical northern doorstep, to better appreciate the complex development of the human, political and economic region that we inhabit. -- Jeffrey Mellefont * New Mandela *In contrast and happy opposition to the national frameworks that nowadays limit most historical understandings of the diverse islands and coastlines that make up Southeast Asia—or Nusantaria, as he calls it, Bowring weaves a bright tapestry stretching across the centuries and the oceans to capture our eyes and minds, and remind us of the significance and richness of this often misunderstood corner of the world. * Ooi Kee Beng, Penang Institute (Malaysia) *Philip Bowring has produced an absorbing and timely history of maritime Southeast Asia. Ranging from prehistoric times to the present, he deftly harnesses an impressive range of sources into a compelling and fast-paced narrative. Bowring has important things to say about how disparate elements – of geography, culture, economic relations and political dynamics – have shaped a complex region that has long been central to global history. * Gareth Richards, Judge, Penang Book Prize 2019, founder of Gerakbudaya Bookshop Penang and Hikayat *Table of ContentsList of Maps and Illustrations Glossary Preface Introduction 1. Child of a Drowned Parent 2. Nusantaria’s Defining Features and Early People 3. To Babylon and Back 4. Ghosts of Early Empires 5. Culture from India, Goods from China 6. Srivijaya: Vanished Great Mandala 7. Java Takes Centre Stage 8. Tamil Tigers of Trade 9. Champa: Master of the East Sea 10. Malagasy Genes and African Echoes 11. China Raises its Head 12. The Majapahit Good Life 13. Tremble and Obey: the Zheng He Voyages 14. Nails, Dowels and Improbable Ships 15. Malay Melaka’s Lasting Legacy 16. The Northern Outliers 17. Islam’s Great Leap East 18. Nusantaria: Holed near the Waterline 19. Barangays and Baybayin 20. Makassar, Bugis and Freedom of the Seas 21. Where Kings Reign but Priests Rule 22. The Sulu Factor: Trading, Raiding, Slaving 23. Nusantaria’s Existential Crisis 24. Labour, Capital, Kongsi: The Power of the Chinese 25. High Noon of Occupation 26. Empty Lands No Longer 27. Freedom, Fears and the Future Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisInsecure Gulf examines how the concept of Arabian/Persian Gulf 'security' is evolving in response to new challenges that are increasingly non-military and longer-term. Food, water and energy security, managing and mitigating the impact of environmental degradation and climate change, addressing demographic pressures and the youth bulge and reformulating structural economic deficiencies, in addition to dealing with the fallout from progressive state failure in Yemen, require a broad, global and multi-dimensional approach to Gulf security. While 'traditional' threats from Iraq, Iran, nuclear proliferation and trans-national terrorism remain robust, these new challenges to Gulf security have the potential to strike at the heart of the social contract and redistributive mechanisms that bind state and society in the Arab oil monarchies. Consequently, Insecure Gulf explores the relationship between 'traditional' and 'new' security challenges and situates it within the changing political economy of the GCC states as they move at varying speeds toward post-oil structures of governance. It describes how regimes are anticipating and reacting to the shifting security paradigm, and contextualises these changes within the broader political, economic, social and demographic framework. It also argues that a holistic approach to security is necessary for regimes to renew their sources of legitimacy in a globalising world.Trade Review'Insecure Gulf' provides the first detailed assessment of the developments in the Persian Gulf sub-region in the post-oil era. It is the one of the few books of its kind not to be obsessed with the sub-region's energy riches, and in looking to highlight the uncertainties of a future from which oil income may not provide sufficient protection, warns of the sub-region's impending demographic, economic and environmental crises. Sympathetically written and meticulously researched, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen draws our attention to the dangers of a perfect storm forming in the Gulf Arab countries in which domestic challenges could combine with externally-induced security or economic shocks to expose these societies to crises of such magnitude that could test their very socio-political foundations. This is a must read. -- Anoush Ehteshami, Professor of International Relations at Durham UniversityKristian Coates Ulrichsen's absorbing book is rich in detail and profoundly incisive. It is brilliant in its analysis and masterful in scope, tackling the most important and toughest questions on security in the Gulf region. Fascinating, fluently written and insightful, 'Insecure Gulf' offers a genuinely original perspective on this important subject. This is compulsory and highly engaging reading. -- Dr Steven Wright, Department of International Affairs, Qatar University'Insecure Gulf' offers a broad-ranging yet consistently cogent survey of the major trends that threaten the stability of the Arab Gulf states at the present moment and in the foreseeable future. It highlights not only the concrete, material challenges that confront regimes in this part of the world but also the ideational dynamics that shape how strategic realities get interpreted and prioritized. And the book accomplishes this while remaining accessible to non-specialists. An enlightening tour d'horizon. -- Fred H. Lawson, Professor of Government, Mills College

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Book SynopsisThe republics of Central Asia re-emerged as independent actors in the global interstate system in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, their varied histories and geographies offering many different possible opportunities and course of action. In order to explain their often confusing and complicated foreign policy alignments, many analysts have turned again to the theories of Sir Halford Mackinder (1861-1947), the British geographer who is widely regarded as the founding father of geopolitics. This book brings together historical geographers and political scientists to explore this remarkable renaissance of Mackinder's thinking. It charts his own engagement with the region, in both his writings and his visit to Central Asia as a British envoy in the aftermath of World War I. It outlines and evaluates how his ideas have been used by Central Asian, Russian, and American scholars to explain the region's international relations, and it traces how his writings actually reached Central Asia and the manner in which they have been dynamically reworked by scholars 'in transit'. The book is thus an important contribution not only to theorising the international relations of Central Asia, but also to our understanding of the historical geography of how ideas are ex- changed and reworked in the process.Trade Review'Nick Megoran and Sevara Sharapova's edited collection is a welcome and wide-ranging exploration of [Halford Mackinder's] thought and its relevance for Central Asia.' * International Affairs *'This is an excellent and engaging piece of work, which takes an innovative and ground-breaking approach to Mackinder's theories. It is a must-read for anyone with an interest in Mackinder's contribution to geopolitics and its contemporary readings. The kind of academic work to which so many aspire.' * Christopher Wyatt, author of Afghanistan and the Defence of Empire *'Approaching Central Asia through the theories of the imperial scholar-strategist Halford Mackinder (1861-1947), this book offers an impressive guide to multilingual universes of power, intrigue and geopolitics. And if you think you know Mackinder already, prepare to be astonished and to reappraise.' * James D. Sidaway, Professor of Political Geography, National University of Singapore *'A challenging and insightful book representing serious analysis of Central Asian geopolitics.' * Alisher Faizullaev, D.Sc., Professor at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan, and former Ambassador to the United Kingdom *'Halford Mackinder's "heartland" is invariably invoked in discussions about Central Asia. This distinctive, welcome collection by regional and international scholars provides a must-read systematic and perceptive assessment of how Mackinder's ideas have been interpreted within and adapted to the complexities of Central Asia's local contexts.' * Sally N. Cummings, Professor of International Relations University of St Andrews, and author of Understanding Central Asia *

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Book SynopsisVladimir Putin has almost by stealth trans- formed himself into an historic Russian figure. His undeniable political dominance was reflected in his return to presidential control after the March 2012 elections, having placed an obedient President Dmitry Medvedev in a stop-gap presidency. Since 1999 Putin's growing power transposed itself in foreign affairs and nowhere did Russia's reemergence on the world stage have more impact than in the Middle East. Russia's new role and identity had its roots in the late Yeltsin era but Putin has subtly deflated the balloon of US power by cleverly manipulating developments in the Middle East including Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian- Israeli conflict, the Syrian revolution and other regional issues. Yet twenty years earlier Russia was a very different place, and as it took its first fragile steps in a world full of dangers, the Middle East was not a top priority. This book charts the remarkable conversion in Russian Middle East policy that developed after the turning point in 2005-2006, which mirrored Putin's turn to unbridled authoritarianism. It remains to be seen whether Putin's increasingly pugnacious Middle East policies can be reconciled with Russia's long term interests economically and strategically.Trade Review'It is impossible to understand the contemporary Middle East without understanding the interests and role of the Russian Federation. Nizameddin provides an innovative analysis of the foreign policies pursued under Putin's presidencies in this explosive region. If you read just one book on Russia and the Middle East, read this one.' * Peter J.S. Duncan, Senior Lecturer in Russian Politics and Society, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London *'Talal Nizameddin has written a fascinating book on an important topic. This is a most useful guide to anyone trying to understand Putin's overall strategy in the Middle East as well as providing some answers to those of us wondering why Russia continues to support the Assad regime in Syria.' * Mike Bowker, Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of East Anglia, UK, and author of Russia, America and the Islamic World *'Talal Nizameddin is a masterful guide to the complexities of Russian policy in the Middle East - a region crucial to Russia's comeback as a powerful actor on the world stage. In this seminal work, he manages the Herculean task of explaining how Putin consolidated a pragmatic and realistic policy by balancing Russian relations with a variety of different actors.' * Bente Scheller, Director, Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung, and author of The Wisdom of Syria's Waiting Game: Foreign Policy Under the Assads *

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Book SynopsisThe Arab Spring occurred within the context of the unraveling of the dominant 'ruling bargain' that emerged across the Middle East in the 1950s. This is being replaced by a new and in- choate system that redefines sources of author- ity and legitimacy through various devices (such as constitutions), experiences, and processes (mass protests, civil wars, and elections), by reassessing the roles, functions, and at times the structures of institutions (political parties and organisations, the armed forces, the executive); and by the initiative of key personalities and actors (agency). Across the Arab world and the Middle East, 'authority' and 'political legitimacy' are in flux. Where power will ultimately reside depends largely on the shape, voracity, and staying power of these new, emerging conceptions of authority. The contributors to this book examine the nature and evolution of ruling bargains, the politi- cal systems to which they gave rise, the steady unraveling of the old systems and the structural consequences thereof, and the uprisings that have engulfed much of the Middle East since December 2010.Trade ReviewThe authors of this wide-ranging collection - deeply steeped in history and skilled in political analysis - walk us through the past 'bargains' imposed by rulers of the Middle East on their own peoples. In doing so, they expertly convey how those bargains are now being renegotiated in a process that is sometimes exhilarating but also contentious (even violent), confusing, and prone to breakdown, distrust, and even bad faith. -- Nathan Brown, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs'Beyond the Arab Spring' adds new dimensions and considerable depth to our understanding of the extraordinary events in the region since the first days of 2011. From the exploration of an array of institutions and social forces underpinning the uprisings to the examination of particularities of country cases, this volume covers a lot of ground while providing readers with much to think about. An important contribution to the literature. -- Miriam R. Lowi, Department of Political Science, The College of New Jersey and author of 'Oil Wealth and the Poverty of Politics: Algeria Compared'

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Book SynopsisTibet's enduring myth, animated by the tales of Himalayan adventurers, British military expeditions, and the novel, Lost Horizon, remains an inspirational fantasy, a modern morality play about the failure of brutality to subdue the human spirit. Tibet also exercises immense 'soft power' as one of the lenses through which the world views China. This book traces the origins and manifestations of the Tibetan myth, as propagated by Younghusband, Madam Blavatsky, Himmler, Acheson and Roosevelt. The authors discuss how, after WW2, Tibet - isolated, misunderstood and with a tiny elite unschooled in political-military realities - - misread the diplomacy between its two giant neighbours, India and China, forlornly hoping London or Washington might intervene. The PLA sought nothing less than to deconstruct traditional Tibet, unseat the Dalai Lama and 'absorb' this vast region into the People's Republic, and Lhasa succumbed to China's invasion in 1950. Drawing on declassified CIA and Chinese documents, the authors reveal Mao's collusion with Stalin to subdue Tibet, double-dealing by Nehru, the brilliant diplomacy of Chou en Lai and how Washington see-sawed between the China lobby, who insisted there be no backing for an independent Tibet, and Presidents Truman and later Eisenhower, who initiated a covert CIA programme to support the Dalai Lama and resist Chinese occupation. It is an ignoble saga with few, if any, heroes, other than ordinary Tibetans.Trade Review'In Tibet, Lezlee Brown Halper and Stefan Halper look behind a tragic past and uncertain future... The book, based on recently declassified documents, is as gripping as a spy thriller, with vivid details and fully drawn characters in all their heroism and foibles.' * Financial Times *'The great strength of this book, a tour de force of original research, lies in its fresh exploration of America's secret assault on China through Tibet. The authors have interviewed participants on several continents, perused hitherto classified documents and even somehow penetrated the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Their description of the difficulties encountered by the CIA in training its Tibetan operatives is especially enthralling... This absorbing book illustrates a tragically familiar situation: the weak being devoured by the strong.' * Literary Review *'Since World War II few peoples have been more badly served than the Tibetans - abandoned to their fate at the hands of the Han Chinese by their so-called friends and admirers. Yet the Tibetan myth, a cultural state of mind and belief, lives on. This excellent book explains its fate and its extraordinary durability, and suggests that the myth may yet prove to have more soft power and greater longevity than the Chinese Communist Party itself - a wonderfully seditious idea which should set alarms ringing in Beijing.' * Sir Richard Dearlove KCMG OBE, formerly Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service *'The West is - understandably - deeply impressed with the spiritual energy and depth of the Dalai Lama; but we have long needed a judicious and comprehensive overview of how the current indefensible situation in Tibet arose that will take us beyond vague sympathy. This book offers just such an overview, spelling out how short-term needs of the Cold War and the tunnel-vision of pro-Taiwanese lobbyists in the USA combined with the political and moral radar of the world. It is a tragic and shameful story, told here with clarity and challenge.' * Lord Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge and former Archbishop of Canterbury *'Lezlee and Stefan Halper are unique; a literary partnership at home in the rigorous disciplines of research and scholarship, with deep experience in high level public service, yet able to enthral the reader with a thrilling story. In Tibet, they have drawn on all these talents to illuminate the adventure, mythology, violence and geopolitics of Tibet in a way never before achieved. They have unearthed new secrets through diligent research and unique access while never losing a grasp of the arc of the romantic tragedy that is the fabled "Shangri-la."' * John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy, member of the 9/11 Commission and the author of Command of the Seas *'This book reshapes the way we look at Tibet. A challenging, fascinating and provocative work that anyone interested in the society and its fate should buy.' * Christopher Coker, Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics *'This book evokes a romantic yet informative vision of Tibet based on extensive research into the official record. Many episodes and details will be new and surprising even to veteran scholars of modern Tibetan history, let alone the general reader.' * Krishnan Srinivasan, former Indian foreign secretary *'In Tibet: An Unfinished Story, Lezlee and Stefan Halper provide the most readable and insightful account of Tibet's history during the Cold War to date. This is the remarkable story of how Tibet, weak militarily, without genuine allies, and surrounded by powerful states, was frequently traduced. It was unable to gain the independence it wanted at a time of decolonization across Asia. But the book is also the story of the emergence of a Tibetan myth that has become fundamental to its unique position in the world today. Anyone who wants to to understand the Cold War in East Asia, the problem that Tibet will pose for the People's Republic of China as it progresses on its 'peaceful rise', and the continuing sympathy for Tibet in the West must read this book. Written in a lively and accessible style by authors who care about the subject and know it inside out, this book is a genuine achievement.' - * Hans van de Ven, Professor of Modern Chinese History, Cambridge University *'This is a powerful account of the West's fascination with Tibet and the hard truths of realpolitik that have shaped policy towards the country, from the advent of Cold War to the present day. Based on personal interviews with some of the key players and on archival sources, the authors uncover the dilemma faced by the Western powers in their need to accommodate China at the expense of Tibet's desire for independence. An important book.' * Tsering Shakya, Canadian Research Chair in Religion and Contemporary Society in Asia, University of British Columbia, and author of The Dragon in the Land of Snows: A History of Modern Tibet Since 1947 *'The authors bring much insight into why the often spurious accounts [of Tibet] and the enduring sympathy they created ... did nothing to save the real country and its people from the tragedies it has endured in the past 60 years. ...Drawing on recently declassified archives and extensive official contacts [the authors] bring an illuminating level of detail to their account.' * International Affairs *'The authors have researched their subject with meticulous attention to detail and they pose the intriguing question of whether Tibet may come to outlive the present regime in Beijing.' * Geographical *'The authors' in-depth explanation of the inner workings of the American security establishment is fascinating for anyone interested in the twists and turns of diplomatic decision-making. Viewing Tibet from an American perspective allows the authors to situate Tibet's struggle for independence among the big themes of modern history... their meticulous research is evident and the wealth of anecdotes and asides make for an account as lively as it is thorough.' * Asian Review *

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Book SynopsisWhy is Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, involved in a costly and merciless war against its mountainous southern neighbour Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East? When the Saudis attacked the hitherto obscure Houthi militia, which they believed had Iranian backing, to oust Yemen's government in 2015, they expected an easy victory. They appealed for Western help and bought weapons worth billions of dollars from Britain and America; yet two years later the Houthis, a unique Shia sect, have the upper hand.In her revealing portrait of modern Yemen, Ginny Hill delves into its recent history, dominated by the enduring and pernicious influence of career dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled for three decades before being forced out by street protests in 2011. Saleh masterminded patronage networks that kept the state weak, allowing conflict, social inequality and terrorism to flourish.In the chaos that follows his departure, civil war and regional interference plague the country while separatist groups, Al-Qaeda and ISIS compete to exploit the broken state. And yet, Yemen endures.Trade Review'[A] vivid and balanced account.''Yemen - a country of multiple realities, complex, layered, and explosive, where some of the hungriest people in the world strive to live. Ginny Hill is a rare outsider who has lived the country, she is superbly seasoned in its physical and political terrain. Her book is a revelation.' -- Jon Snow, Channel 4‘Highly engaging and well written.’ -- Bustan: The Middle East Book Review‘A compelling and detailed account . . . combining a journalist’s flair with the deep expertise from more than a decade of living in, working on and writing about Yemen, Hill weaves together the stories of Yemenis from several hundred interviews in a style that is both engaging and accessible.’ 'This is an extremely fine journalistic account of the turbulence in contemporary Yemen . . . provides a distinct perspective on the factors that allow Yemen to continue to exist . . . a fine read for anyone unfamiliar with Yemen to get up to speed in understanding the country.''Written with the fluid cadence of a former journalist, it offers a highly accessible and important entry point for readers new to the history and politics of Yemen but also includes content that will help more seasoned readers better under- stand some long-standing puzzles . . . a well-written work of wide scope on questions of great urgency.’ '[Hill] use[s] her deep knowledge and experience of Yemen to not only explain the complexities of the current conflict, but also places them in an historical and social context . . . deeply emotive and engaging . . . Telling the story of Yemen and the wider region through this powerful yet still journalistic prose makes for a genuine page turner.''Ginny Hill's detailed and highly readable account [...] is indispensable to understanding the story so far. [...] Hill is impressive proof that academic rigour, patient and persistent reporting, good contacts and fine writing are not mutually exclusive. Her book is full of vivid insights enriched by far deeper knowledge than can be accumulated during a brief visit.' -- Ian Black, LSE blog'Yemen Endures is an invaluable guide to the crisis that has engulfed Yemen, combining history, analysis and vivid first-person testimony -- a must-read for anyone who wants to understand this bewilderingly multi-faceted conflict.' -- Robin Lustig, former presenter of The World Tonight on BBC Radio 4 and Newshour on BBC World Service'The most authoritative account of the Yemen tragedy so far. Yemen Endures succeeds where others have failed in giving voice to the Yemeni people. Highly recommended.' -- Christopher Davidson, author of Shadow Wars: The Secret Struggle for the Middle East'There are all too few books written on Yemen, fewer still that get it right. Hill's expert guide through the quagmire is both timely and essential. This book achieves that through the author's rare balance of insight, candour and direct experience to produce a work that will be a marker of how modern Yemen ended up in war and collapse.' -- Iona Craig, former Times (of London) Yemen correspondent, winner of the Orwell Prize and the Martha Gellhorn Award'An eminently readable and highly insightful portrayal of a country in chaos. Hill's account of Yemen's history and torturous politics is vividly coloured by her own personal experiences.' -- Mehran Kamrava, author of The Modern Middle East: A Political History Since World War I

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Book SynopsisInside the Arab State offers a comprehensive examination of contemporary Arab politics before and after the 2011 uprisings. Mehran Kamrava examines a broad range of political, economic, and social variables that shaped conceptions of power, functions and institutions of the state, the rise and evolution of social movements, the eruption of civil war in some countries and fragile polities in others, and evolving civil–military relations before and after the 2011 uprisings. Beginning with an examination of politics, and more specifically political institutions, in the Arab world from the 1950s on, the book traces the challenges faced by Arab states, and the wounds they inflicted on their societies and on themselves along the way. And at the crux of the book are the 2011 uprisings, states' responses to them, and efforts by political leaders to carve out new forms of legitimacy, as well as the reasons for the emergence and rise of the Islamic State. Power, and an increasingly narrow conception of it in terms of submission and conformity, remains at the heart of Arab politics, popular protests and yearnings for change notwithstanding. The 2011 uprisings changed much in the Arab world, but even more has stayed the same.Trade Review'Inside the Arab State is a top pick for understanding the Arab state and politics.’ -- Middle East Quarterly'An important book for understanding Arab politics and, in particular, the internal dynamics affecting the behaviour of many of the Arab states.’ -- Bustan: The Middle East Book Review'A major contribution to the study of Arab politics, Mehran Kamrava’s Inside the Arab State strikes a rare balance: theoretically rigorous yet accessible; panoramic but also rich in detail. It jettisons many of the usual tropes of the region in favour of a sophisticated argument that weaves together institutions, state-society relations, and the processes of contestation. A must-read for scholars, students and informed policymakers.' -- Frederic Wehrey, Senior Fellow, Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, author of 'The Burning Shores: Inside the Battle for the New Libya''An impressive accomplishment. In this concise and accessible account, Mehran Kamrava provides a sophisticated and nuanced survey of major trends in contemporary Arab politics. Offering a deeply informed and unsparing perspective on state dynamics and state-society relations in the years prior to and following the uprisings of 2011, Inside the Arab State is an essential guide to the challenges confronting Arab politics in the twenty-first century.' -- Steven Heydemann, Ketcham Professor of Middle East Studies, Smith College'An ideal primer for students and scholars seeking to grasp institutional continuity and change in the contemporary Arab world.' -- Jason Brownlee, Professor, Department of Government, University of Texas at Austin'Unlike some specialists, Mehran Kamrava has ranged widely in his pathbreaking analyses of the Middle East, taking on subjects as diverse as Iranian intellectual life, the plight of the Palestinians, and the emergence of small hydrocarbon giants like Qatar. In this book he steps back to capture the big picture of the evolution of politics in the region, from postcolonial nationalism to the heartbreaking failures of the Arab Spring youth revolts. This is essential reading, from one of our keenest observers of the region.' -- Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History, University of Michigan; author of 'The New Arabs: How the Millenial Generation is Changing the Middle East'

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Book SynopsisContemporary Yemen has an image problem. It has long fascinated travellers and artists, and to many embodies both Arab and Muslim authenticity; it stands at important geostrategic and commercial crossroads. Yet, strangely, global perceptions of Yemen are of an entity that is somehow both marginal and passive, yet also dangerous and problematic. The Saudi offensive launched in 2015 has made Yemen a victim of regional power struggles, while the global ‘war on terror’ has labelled it a threat to international security. This perception has had disastrous effects without generating real interest in the country or its people. On the contrary, Yemen’s complex political dynamics have been largely ignored by international observers—resulting in problematic, if not counterproductive, international policies. Yemen and the World offers a corrective to these misconceptions and omissions, putting aside the nature of the world’s interest in Yemen to focus on Yemen’s role on the global stage. Laurent Bonnefoy uses six areas of modern international exchange—globalisation, diplomacy, trade, migration, culture and militant Islamism—to restore Yemen to its place at the heart of contemporary affairs. To understand Yemen, he argues, is to understand the Middle East as a whole. Trade Review‘An intensely detailed examination of this ancient land on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. [The] current civil conflict can be better understood by a reading of Yemen and the World, perhaps more so than any other published account.’ -- CHOICE‘A thoroughly researched and compelling analysis that makes a solid contribution to Yemen studies by providing an insightful look at Yemeni international interactions over the past two centuries.’ -- Bustan: The Middle East Book ReviewThis is an outstanding book, an incisive and in-depth look at Yemeni international interactions over the past two centuries. Bonnefoy's examination of migrants, merchants, and refugees, and literature, song, and poetry takes the reader on a far richer and highly compelling journey than others have done. -- Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East, Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Associate Fellow in the Middle East & North Africa Programme, Chatham HouseBonnefoy deftly weaves together historical and contemporary analysis through the lens of transnational flows of ideas, people, and claims. This is essential to a better understanding of what is (and is not) new about Yemen's axes of conflict and potential for sustainable peace. -- Stacey Philbrick Yadav, Chair of the International Relations Program, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and author of 'Islamists and the State: Legitimacy and Institutions in Yemen and Lebanon''A splendid documentation of Yemen's synergies with the world, both in history and contemporary times. Bonnefoy has done a superb job of persuading us of Yemen's vital position in the global community.' -- Marieke Brandt

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Book SynopsisThe Indian Ocean's strategic importance to China cannot be underestimated, given the oil, African minerals and container traffic that pass through it. Yet, until now, China has been absent from the region since Admiral Zheng He sailed his fleet through in the fifteenth century, exploring and mapping the waters in a bid to extend the Celestial Empire's trading and tributary system. Beijing's re-entry into the Indian Ocean after 600 years is part of Xi Jinping's 'Belt and Road' megaproject. He is investing trillions of dollars in infrastructure projects around the Ocean rim, including a military base in Djibouti. This has touched off a new and dangerous confrontation. Ranged against China is an informal alliance of India, the US, France, Australia, and, predictably, Japan--Beijing's arch-rival in the Asia–Pacific. Bertil Lintner unearths this dramatic story, profiling the key players, examining the economic and naval balance of power, and scrutinising New Delhi and Beijing's intense competition for the allegiance of small island nations. China is in the Indian Ocean for the long haul, and the entry of big-power politics into this sensitive maritime region will shape its future for decades to come.Trade Review‘Meticulously chronicled . . . [an] illuminating view from the field.'‘Lintner’s decades of reporting from all over Asia lend him shrewd insight into the region’s geography and politics.’ -- Foreign Affairs'Enlightening.'‘Lintner’s book offers more than an account of Chinese efforts to extend its economic, diplomatic and military presence to the far-flung islands of the Indian Ocean. It is a primer on the history and politics of the Indian Ocean rim largely ignored by the mainstream media.' -- Global Asia'A detailed and intriguing account of the rising Chinese superpower's Indian Ocean manoeuvres in a budding new cold war among atolls and island states. This is an indispensable reference tool for anyone interested in this region and in the future of our global order.' -- Lars Ellström, author of 'Road to Kashgar: Notes from a Walk through China''Four-fifths of the container traffic between Asia and the rest of the world, and three-fifths of the world's oil supplies, pass through the Indian Ocean. The new great game takes place here. This book is a comprehensive and enthralling guide to the Ocean's geopolitics, China's designs for the future of the region and the precarious search for balance. Highly recommended.' -- Bruno Maçães, author of 'Belt and Road: A Chinese World Order'

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Book SynopsisThis volume contributes to understanding Bangladesh's growth story, as it celebrates 50 years of independence. The fastest growing South Asian state is being recognised as an important partner and model case study with increasing global relevance by world powers. Sreeradha Datta reviews many of its critical bilateral relationships, as well as its expanding influence in the region and world beyond, enabling an understanding of how Bangladesh's growth trajectory complements and informs its foreign policy aims. The volume has a mixture of thematic and bilateral chapters, and includes the active Bangladeshi diaspora population and its influence on the country's unfolding narrative. Datta features the viewpoints of key Bangladeshi policy makers; expert takes on how the world is engaging with Bangladesh; and covers the growing salience of Bangladesh's foreign policy, reflecting its new acquired economic status.

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Book SynopsisThe Birth of Psychological War explores the history, politics, and geography of United States psychological warfare in the 20th century against the backdrop of the contemporary ''post-truth era''. From its origins in the Second World War, to the United States'' counterinsurgency campaigns in Vietnam, Whyte traces how the theory and practice of psychological warfare transformed the relationship between the home front and theatres of war. Whyte interrogates the broader political mythologies that animate popular conceptions of psychological war, such as its claim to make war more humane and less violent.On the contrary, The Birth of Psychological War demonstrates the role of psychological warfare in expanding the scope and scale of military violence amidst ostensible efforts to ''win hearts and minds''. While casting a critical eye on psychological warfare, Whyte establishes its continued significance for the contemporary student of international relations.Trade ReviewJeffrey Whyte's The Birth of Psychological Warfare is an excellent example of what Foucault called the 'history of the present'. Whyte provides a fascinating and detailed historical study of the development of psychological warfare and its connection to contemporary concerns around disinformation and cybersecurity. * Stuart Elden, Professor of Political Theory and Geography, Warwick University *Table of ContentsList of Figures Introduction 1: 'A New Geography of Defence' 2: Truth, Territory, Terror 3: Covert Crusade 4: Psywar in Vietnam Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTerritory is one of the central political concepts of the modern world and, indeed, functions as the primary way the world is divided and controlled politically. This title provides an account of the emergence of territory within Western political thought.Trade Review"This is a brilliant intellectual exegesis of the concept of territory that will be of wide interest in a range of academic fields, from international relations to historical sociology and the history of political thought." (John Agnew, University of California, Los Angeles)"

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Book SynopsisSanctions are back with a vengeance, with new objectives, measures, challenges, and opportunities. Shaping the thinking of generations of scholars, Canadian Margaret Doxey anticipated and analyzed these issues. Multilateral Sanctions Revisited applies her lessons to the many multilateral sanctions that define our geopolitically contested world.Trade Review“Margaret Doxey (1975) wrote much of her influential work on sanctions in an era characterized by young international institutions, against the backdrop of the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War. The 16 women who contribute to [this book] honor Doxey's scholarship in a time of re-emerging global tensions. Contemporary sanctions are smarter than ever, but they fail to make up for the eroding moral legitimacy of measures imposed outside of the framework of the UN. Regardless of the reader's stand in the debate between respecting the consensus below the ceiling or pursuing higher norms above and beyond it, the inevitable consequence is that multiple unilateral sanctions can never be as effective as truly multilateral ones.” World Affairs"Cutting-edge considerations and scholarly insight … de facto make Multilateral Sanctions Revisited the new reference point in multilateral sanctions studies. Furthermore, as all the contributions(and even reviews) are made by female-only sanctions experts, this volume is … tangible proof of the successful path a once-solitary female voice helped shape for many subsequent female scholars in the discipline.” International Spectator“... expertly and comprehensively explained ... [this] book provides an authoritative guide to the use of multilateral sanctions and the UN’s central role in it. While the future of the UN and multilateral sanctions looks uncertain, this book provides an excellent guide to all aspects of its past and present.” International Affairs

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Book SynopsisWide-ranging changes have been made to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) since 2006, when the binational agreement was signed in perpetuity. NORAD traces the joint command’s recent history – one marked by technological and structural innovations, but also by unprecedented threats and challenges.Trade Review“Among specialists on foreign and defence relations, and Canada-US relations, this work will immediately become the go-to book on NORAD.” Joseph T. Jockel, St Lawrence University and author of Canada in NORAD, 1957–2007: A History

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Book SynopsisWide-ranging changes have been made to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) since 2006, when the binational agreement was signed in perpetuity. NORAD traces the joint command’s recent history – one marked by technological and structural innovations, but also by unprecedented threats and challenges.Trade Review“Among specialists on foreign and defence relations, and Canada-US relations, this work will immediately become the go-to book on NORAD.” Joseph T. Jockel, St Lawrence University and author of Canada in NORAD, 1957–2007: A History

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Book SynopsisJapan's New Regional Reality offers a comprehensive analysis of Japan's geoeconomic strategy that reveals the country's role in shaping regional economic order in the Asia-Pacific. Saori N. Katada explains Japanese foreign economic policy in light of both international and domestic dynamics.Trade ReviewThis book provides a much-needed analysis of changes in Japan’s regional economic strategy. In giving agency to the Japanese state, Katada makes a major contribution to our understanding not just of contemporary Japan, but of the region as a whole and the potential shape of the world order to come. -- Saadia Pekkanen, editor of Asian Designs: Governance in the Contemporary World OrderAt a time when the future of Asia is narrowly seen through the prism of U.S.-China great power competition, Katada persuasively demonstrates that Japan’s quiet transformation—less mercantilist, more champion of liberalism—will shape the regional order. Her command of the nuanced evolution of Japan’s foreign economic policy across diverse tracks—trade and investment, finance, and development aid—is unparalleled. Essential reading for anyone interested in Asian geoeconomics. -- Mireya Solís, author of Dilemmas of a Trading Nation: Japan and the United States in the Evolving Asia-Pacific OrderThis important book provides a convincing account of the remarkable shift by Japan to lead regional initiatives for liberal economic policy. Katada melds theory and empirical tests to explain how state-led liberalism arose to replace mercantilist industrial policies with a new era of Japanese foreign economic policy. Looking inside domestic decision-making processes and reflecting on the challenge of China’s growing strength, the book offers a comprehensive synthesis. -- Christina L. Davis, author of Why Adjudicate?: Enforcing Trade Rules in the WTOKatada provides a comprehensive synthesis of East Asia’s regional political economy and analyzes Japan’s trade and investment, money and finance, development and foreign aid, showcasing a deep knowledge of Japanese internal and external economic policy. -- Takashi Inoguchi, J.F. Oberlin University * Asian Journal of Comparative Politics *I would expect a broad range of audiences to appreciate the argument presented here in terms of both level—from upper-end undergraduates to postgraduates, researchers, and practitioners—and disciplines/subfield—from political science, quantitative methodology, and comparative politics to IPE, international relations, and even security studies. * Journal of Japanese Studies *Succeeds in providing a comprehensive and nuanced account of this period of dramatic change in Japan’s foreign economic policy that will appeal to area specialists and political economists alike. * Monumenta Nipponica *Table of ContentsList of Figures and TablesList of Japanese TermsAcknowledgmentsList of AcronymsIntroduction1. Japan’s Regional Geoeconomic Strategy2. Foreign Economic Policy, Domestic Institutions, and Regional Governance3. Geoeconomics of the Asia-Pacific4. Transformation in the Japanese Political Economy5. Trade and Investment: A Gradual Path6. Money and Finance: An Uneven Path7. Development and Foreign Aid: A Hybrid PathConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The rise of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey since the early 2000s and its overseeing of a growing economy and a forceful foreign policy have been one of the key forces shaping the Middle East in a turbulent decade bookended by the September 11 attacks and the Arab Uprisings. In Media in New Turkey , Yesil explores and explains the growth of Turkish media, its travails with the government, and its forays in the Middle East and Central Asia. Deftly eschewing media determinism, Yesil approaches Turkish media as a site of struggle between various strands of democratic and authoritarian politics, Islamism and neoliberalism. Both in its approach to the topic and in the important insights it provides, this book will be an original and lasting contribution to the literature on media, culture, and politics within and beyond the Middle East."--Marwan Kraidy, author of Reality Television and Arab Politics: Contention in Public Life"A very timely and enlightening book… Yesil uses considerable informal interview content as well as reference to abundant published sources to provide an excellent review of the processes that have undermined the rule of law in turkey, whether through state terrorism or political-economic collusion and corruption… Highly recommended."—Choice "From a historical point of view, the book successfully underlines the centralized authoritarian character of the state. . . . It serves as an essential guide for scholars and students investigating recent concerns and/or the rooted tensions in the media-politics-culture triangle."--International Journal of Communication"It is a real treat to read a work on the Middle Eastern media that shows the sociological sophistication employed by Bilge Yesil. This book is packed with stimulating ideas on Turkish media, state, and society that cut through the familiar mind-numbing clichés. Not only categories that have served Middle East experts for so long, but also the myth of Turkish Model dissolves under her scrutiny. This is a timely book and a must-read for students of international communications and any students interested in the contemporary Middle East."--Gholam Khiabany, author of Iranian Media: The Paradox of Modernity"Bilge Yesil's book is a fantastic introduction for those wanting to develop an understanding of the complex relationship between politics, economics, and the media in contemporary Turkey." --H-Net Reviews"A very well-researched book. Everyone interested in contemporary Turkey’s grim media landscape should read it."--Hurriyet Daily News

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Burçe Çelik’s book is a superbly documented contribution to the geopolitics of information. For all those interested in a non-Western perspective on global communication, it is an absolute must read.”--Cees Hamelink, University of AmsterdamTable of ContentsAcknowledgement Acronyms and Abbreviations The Ottoman Empire Map, 1830 Introduction Empire Versus Imperialism: Communicative Struggles over Reproduction of the Empire Nation-Building by Communications Developmentalism and the Militarization of Communications Neoliberal Militarism Wiring a New Turkey through Neoliberal and Islamist Populism Epilogue Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Israel's special relationship with the united States has come under close public scrutiny in recent months following revelations about Israeli involvement in the Iran-Contra and Jonathan Pollard spy scandals. Cheryl Rubenberg's controversial new book traces the evolution of that relationship from the Truman through the Reagan administrations and challenges the widely held view that close ties between Tel Aviv and Washington have served U. S. interests well in the Middle East. Indeed, she makes a convincing case that, in the two decades since 1967, U.S. policymakers have tended to confuse what is best for Israel with what is best for the United States and to ignore what she regards as the most pressing problem in the Middle East, the quest for a Palestinian homeland." -- Douglas Little, International History Review"Rubenberg has courageously joined the ranks of a 'few good men,' such as Ball and Findley, who have taken professional risks to defy the conventional wisdom surrounding an issue of great importance for generations to come in an increasingly militaristic age. Her book deserves to be read by both Israeli and Arab supporters In addition, it certainly should be read by those who perhaps have little or no sympathy for either side of the conflict but whose concern for American interests is paramount." -- Roberta L. Coles, American-Arab Affairs"Rubenberg has skillfully peeled away the dark, heavy encrustations of mythology in which the Arab-Israeli conflict is cloaked, disclosing realities that bear little resemblance to those confronting the average American newspaper reader." -- George W. Ball, former under secretary of state"The single most satisfactory scholarly study, by far, of the United States-Israeli relationship." -- Richard Falk, author of The End of World Order: Essays on Normative International Relations"All of those concerned about the dangerous situation in the Middle East and the protection of our vital interests there should read and benefit from this valuable book."-- Fred J. Khouri, author of The Arab-Israeli Dilemma

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Book SynopsisIn Media in New Turkey, Bilge Yesil unlocks the complexities surrounding and penetrating today''s Turkish media. Yesil focuses on a convergence of global and domestic forces that range from the 1980 military coup to globalization''s inroads and the recent resurgence of political Islam. Her analysis foregrounds how these and other forces become intertwined, and she uses Turkey''s media to unpack the ever-more-complex relationships. Yesil confronts essential questions regarding: the role of the state and military in building the structures that shaped Turkey''s media system; media adaptations to ever-shifting contours of political and economic power; how the far-flung economic interests of media conglomerates leave them vulnerable to state pressure; and the ways Turkey''s politicized judiciary criminalizes certain speech. Drawing on local knowledge and a wealth of Turkish sources, Yesil provides an engrossing look at the fault lines carved by authoriTrade Review"The rise of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey since the early 2000s and its overseeing of a growing economy and a forceful foreign policy have been one of the key forces shaping the Middle East in a turbulent decade bookended by the September 11 attacks and the Arab Uprisings. In Media in New Turkey , Yesil explores and explains the growth of Turkish media, its travails with the government, and its forays in the Middle East and Central Asia. Deftly eschewing media determinism, Yesil approaches Turkish media as a site of struggle between various strands of democratic and authoritarian politics, Islamism and neoliberalism. Both in its approach to the topic and in the important insights it provides, this book will be an original and lasting contribution to the literature on media, culture, and politics within and beyond the Middle East."--Marwan Kraidy, author of Reality Television and Arab Politics: Contention in Public Life"A very timely and enlightening book… Yesil uses considerable informal interview content as well as reference to abundant published sources to provide an excellent review of the processes that have undermined the rule of law in turkey, whether through state terrorism or political-economic collusion and corruption… Highly recommended."—Choice "From a historical point of view, the book successfully underlines the centralized authoritarian character of the state. . . . It serves as an essential guide for scholars and students investigating recent concerns and/or the rooted tensions in the media-politics-culture triangle."--International Journal of Communication"It is a real treat to read a work on the Middle Eastern media that shows the sociological sophistication employed by Bilge Yesil. This book is packed with stimulating ideas on Turkish media, state, and society that cut through the familiar mind-numbing clichés. Not only categories that have served Middle East experts for so long, but also the myth of Turkish Model dissolves under her scrutiny. This is a timely book and a must-read for students of international communications and any students interested in the contemporary Middle East."--Gholam Khiabany, author of Iranian Media: The Paradox of Modernity"Bilge Yesil's book is a fantastic introduction for those wanting to develop an understanding of the complex relationship between politics, economics, and the media in contemporary Turkey." --H-Net Reviews"A very well-researched book. Everyone interested in contemporary Turkey’s grim media landscape should read it."--Hurriyet Daily News

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Book SynopsisDe-Westernizing the communications history of Turkey and its imperial predecessor The history of communications in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey contradicts the widespread belief that communications is a byproduct of modern capitalism and other Western forces. Burçe Çelik uses a decolonial perspective to analyze the historical commodification and militarization of communications and how it affected production and practice for oppressed populations like women, the working class, and ethnic and religious minorities. Moving from the mid-nineteenth century through today, Çelik places networks within the changing geopolitical landscape and the evolution of modern capitalism in relationship to struggles involving a range of social and political actors. Throughout, she challenges Anglo- and Eurocentric assumptions that see the non-West as an ahistorical imitation of, or aberration from, the development of Western communications. Ambitious and comprehensiTrade Review“Burçe Çelik’s book is a superbly documented contribution to the geopolitics of information. For all those interested in a non-Western perspective on global communication, it is an absolute must read.”--Cees Hamelink, University of AmsterdamTable of ContentsAcknowledgement Acronyms and Abbreviations The Ottoman Empire Map, 1830 Introduction Empire Versus Imperialism: Communicative Struggles over Reproduction of the Empire Nation-Building by Communications Developmentalism and the Militarization of Communications Neoliberal Militarism Wiring a New Turkey through Neoliberal and Islamist Populism Epilogue Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe largely successful trajectory of participatory democracy in post-1988 Brazil is well documented, but much less is known about its origins in the 1970s and early 1980s. In Participatory Democracy in Brazil: Socioeconomic and Political Origins, J. Ricardo Tranjan recounts the creation of participatory democracy in Brazil. He positions the well-known Porto Alegre participatory budgeting at the end of three interrelated and partially overlapping processes: a series of incremental steps toward broader political participation taking place throughout the twentieth century; short-lived and only partially successful attempts to promote citizen participation in municipal administration in the 1970s; and setbacks restricting direct citizen participation in the 1980s. What emerges is a clearly delineated history of how socioeconomic contexts shaped Brazil's first participatory administrations.Tranjan first examines Brazil's long history of institutional exclusion of certain seTrade Review"This pathbreaking study of participatory democracy in Brazil fundamentally challenges the conventional wisdom in a number of ways. Rather than assume that Brazil’s experiments in participatory democracy are urban phenomena that started in the late 1980s as a consequence of its democratic transition, J. Ricardo Tranjan persuasively demonstrates how participatory democracy’s roots date back to rural and urban experiments in participation under military rule. The result is a nuanced understanding of how changes in socioeconomic context and national politics and institutions not only condition local political participation in important ways, but affect the very meaning of political participation. It is a must read for anyone interested in the politics of participation in Latin America." —Philip Oxhorn, McGill University "In Participatory Democracy in Brazil: Socioeconomic and Political Origins, J. Ricardo Tranjan makes an important contribution to broader theoretical debates on political development. Rather than focusing on the now famous participatory budgeting program in Porto Alegre, he extends his analysis to better situate the emphasis on participatory democracy in a larger historical context. His corrective history will be of interest to scholars of participatory democracy, contemporary Brazilian social and political history, and democratic studies." —Brian Wampler, Boise State University"J. Ricardo Tranjan argues for the need to contextualize participatory ideals and practices, and maintains that the much-celebrated cases of the 1990s and 2000s are rooted in less-known cases of the 1970s and 1980s (are, in fact, 'moderations' of those). The formula Tranjan uses for analyzing this context—economic structure and macro-institutional setting—is well-described. The book can be used in courses focusing on 'governance' practices in the developing world or on Brazilian contemporary politics/history." —William Nylen, Stetson University

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Michael Dwyer’s engaging analysis of upland geopolitics shows that Laos has been the mother of many outlandish ideas, but these ideas have had real, material, environmental and political consequences." * Journal of Peasant Studies *"This book and its focus not only raise critical questions about the stories of Laos but about how scholars can contribute to a lineage of attempts at understanding Southeast Asia in the world. This book and the questions it raises will be of interest to scholars and students focusing on natural resource governance, land grabbing, transnational investment, political ecology, and geopolitics, within and beyond Southeast Asia." * Eurasian Geography and Economics *"With an innovative methodology which accepts complexity rather than obliterating it, Upland Geopolitics epitomizes the difficulties and the struggles that state administrators face in their strive to project state power on a territory over which they proclaim sovereignty." * Asia Major *

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Book SynopsisBy exploring the delta as a quagmire in both natural and political terms, Biggs shows how engineered transformations of the Mekong Delta landscape-channelized rivers, a complex canal system, hydropower development, deforestation-have interacted with equally complex transformations in the geopolitics of the region.Trade Review"Biggs has authored an exciting work that clearly breaks new ground. I have little doubt that the book will be well received by multiple audiences." -- Shawn McHale * Asian Studies Review *"Impressively written and well-researched." -- Michitake Aso * Journal of Asian Studies *"Quagmire is also an example of the challenges faced when trying to translate ambitions in historical narrative. How to tell a story of such complexity and nuance? . . . I expect [the answer] will come pretty close to the way Biggs has written his story." -- Maurits Ertsen * Technology and Culture *"Blending disciplinary perspectives from history, anthropology, and geography, Biggs approaches the Mekong Delta as a landscape—as things on the land, as people, institutions, discourses, artifacts, metaphors, and eco-logics—with a particularly unstable morphology." -- Michael Kantor * H-HISTGEOG *"Quagmire offers a neat and fresh storyline, explaining that nation-builders failed to understand the serpentine watercourses and landscapes of the Mekong Delta. . . . Biggs shines a light on the everyday struggles of famers and migrants. . ." -- Geoffrey Cain * Asian Affairs *"I learned that it is not a linear development how people use the environment or how the environment affects people; rather it is a dynamic equilibrium between humans and environment, and it is that interaction which shapes nation-building." -- Ang Cheng Guan * Journal of American-East Asian Relations *"This book is a major achievement that fundamentally recasts our understanding of twentieth-century Vietnamese history. Its deftly written chapters, simultaneously expansive in their concerns yet full of nuance and telling narrative detail, will become the new starting point for further research on the history of southern Vietnam." -- Mark Philip Bradley * American Historical Review *"This work is an original and innovative approach to the contemporary history of Viet Nam. . . . I can recommend this book for graduate students, teachers of colonial and postcolonial Viet Nam, as well as anyone interested in the nexus of environment, modernization, and development." -- Pierre Brocheux * Environmental History *"[A] much-needed perspective on human efforts over time to shape this amphibious land/waterscape. . . . Biggs is clearly a major talent, who has written a path-breaking book that enables us to see, experience, and interpret the delta anew." -- Peter A. Coclanis * Journal of Contemporary Asia *"Biggs's command of the sources, both Vietnamese and Western, is impressive, and his book will interest historians of the Vietnam War as background information. Otherwise, it is an important contribution to Vietnam history and geography. Summing up: Highly recommended." * Choice *Table of ContentsForeword: Nation-Making in the Mekong Mire by William Cronon Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Water's Edge 2. Water Grid 3. Hydroagricultural Crisis 4. Balkanization 5. Modernization 6. American War Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAs state economic policies promote integration under a single logic of modernist development, many impoverished groups remain on the margins. Development in Spirit explores the practices employed by communities on the fringes of such nation-building projects.Trade ReviewIn this stimulating study, Rumsby shows how Christianity offers the Hmong in northwest Vietnam autonomous resources for engaging with state-directed modernization. Empowered by their faith, the people of this uplands minority have charted a path to development that promises prosperity and coexistence with the state on their own terms." - Philip Taylor, Australian National UniversityTable of Contents CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. Historical Context and Strange Parallels Chapter 2. Changing Livelihoods, Precarious Development Trajectories Chapter 3. The Political Economy of New Christian Elites Chapter 4. Neoliberalism in Everyday Life Chapter 5. Conversion and Gender Relations Conclusion. Alternative Paths to Development? Appendix Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn this era of superheated rhetoric and vitriolic exchanges between the leaders of Iran and Israel, the threat of nuclear violence looms. This book traces the shifting relations among Israel, Iran, and the United States from 1948 onwards, uncovering the details of secret alliances, treacherous acts, and unsavoury political manoeuvrings.Trade Review"'This work, based on extensive interviews with decision makers in three countries, contributes both to our historical understanding and our current policy debate.' Francis Fukuyama, author of America at the Crossroads 'This book is outstanding and important.' Nikki Keddie, author of Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution"

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Book SynopsisThe Polar Regions is a systematic investigation of both the geopolitical commonalties and the differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic. It is the first book to integrate polar studies of this nature with teaching and research on political geography and geopolitics. Based on the premise that geopolitical isolation of the polar regions stands substantially eroded today, the book argues that the contemporary polar scene should be approached and understood in terms of its broader regional as well as global context. It also argues that in the 21st century the two polar regions will be increasingly valued not only for their intrinsic polar merits, but also for their contribution to an understanding of global problems. A critical evaluation of the promise and the performance of the Antarctic Treaty System is provided. The book also examines the ongoing debate about Antarctica, which underlines the need to look beyond the present agreement on the Antarctic and to address the geopoliticTable of ContentsPartial table of contents: The New Geopolitics. Environment at the Poles. Colonization and Demarcation: A Bipolar Geohistory. The Arctic and the Cold War. The Antarctic Treaty System and Multinational Governance. The Post-Cold War Arctic: International Cooperation and DisputeManagement. Conservation and Management of the Environment in theAntarctic. Appendix. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisRecent years have witnessed the most substantial changes in the world system of states and their boundaries since World War II. The key division between the states in the world system the former deep ideological divide between East and West has disappeared. The border between Finland and Russia was a frontier between East and West and had a long history as a fundamental dividing line between contrasting cultural and political systems. Territories, Boundaries and Consciousness is the first geographical analysis of how this critical border evolved. This original and well-illustrated book is much more than a local study. It presents both a theoretically informed analysis of the construction of territories and their boundaries and a richly detailed geohistory of the changing geography of Finland. It traces the nature of the nation-building process, the rise of the nation state and the changing position of this emerging new state in the world geopolitical landscape. The history of the constTable of ContentsTERRITORIES AND BOUNDARIES IN REGIONAL TRANSFORMATION. Regional Transformation and the Other. Territories, Boundaries and the Discourse on PoliticalGeography. Time, Space and Consciousness: Constructing Nationalism andCommunicating Boundaries. Methodological Contexts. THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE FINNISH TERRITORY. Nationalism, Geopolitics and Changing Territories: The Case ofFinland. The Changing Socio-Spatial Consciousness. Signifying Territoriality: The Changing Roles of theFinnish-Russian Boundary. TOWARDS LOCAL EXPERIENCE. Place, Boundary and the Construction of Local Experience. Regional Transformation on the Local Scale: TheInstitutionalization of Vartsila. Back to Karelia. Epilogue: Towards a Global Sense of Place. Appendix. References. Indexes.

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Book SynopsisRecent controversies over the political and environmental management of the Antarctic ensure that it will remain an important global issue. Drawing on recent developments in critical geopolitics and cultural geography, Klaus Dodds examines the six major nations of the Southern hemisphere currently involved in the Antarctic. Each of these nations - Argentina, Australia, Chile, India, New Zealand and South Africa - claims a ''natural'' interest in the future of the polar continent. Geopolitics in Antarctica presents a detailed exploration of the rhetoric and politics behind each of these claims, arguing that they are often based on uncritical understandings of territory, geographical proximity and national identity. The book concludes with an examination of how geographical understandings of the Antarctic continue to influence the management of the frozen continent and Southern Ocean.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Southern Oceanic Rim States and Antarctica. Critical Geopolitics and Geo-Graphing of Antarctica. Argentina and Antartida Argentina. Australia and Australian Antarctic Territory. Chile and Territorio Chileno Antartico. India and the Antarctic. New Zealand and the Ross Dependency. South Africa and the Antarctic. Conclusions and the Future of Antarctica. References. Index.

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