Geopolitics Books

Book SynopsisIn 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, launching an economic blockade by land, air and sea. The self-proclaimed 'Anti-Terror Quartet' offered maximalist demands: thirteen 'conditions' recalling Austria-Hungary's 1914 ultimatum to Serbia. They may even have intended military action. Well into its second year, the standoff in the Gulf has no realistic end in sight. With the Bahraini and Emirati criminalisation of expressing support for Qatar, and the Saudi labelling of detainees as 'traitors' for their alleged Qatari links, bitterness has been stoked between deeply interconnected peoples. The adviser to the Saudi crown prince advocating a moat to physically separate Qatar from the Arabian Peninsula illustrates the ongoing intensity—and irrationality—of the crisis. Most reporting and analysis of these developments has focused on questions of regional geopolitics, and framed the standoff in terms of its impact on (largely) Western interests. Lost in this thicket of commentary is consideration of how the Qatari leadership and population have responded to the blockade. As the 2022 FIFA World Cup draws closer, the ongoing Qatar crisis becomes increasingly important to understand. Ulrichsen offers an authoritative study of this international standoff, from both sides.Trade Review‘This account moves from origin to (almost) conclusion, capturing how badly [economic and political embargoes] backfired, strengthening Qatar’s independence and global standing.’ -- The New York Times, '5 Books to Read About Qatar Before the World Cup'‘Accessible and authoritative, the book will benefit anyone interested in the Gulf countries, their multilateral institutions, as well as Qatar’s smart power capabilities.’ -- International Affairs‘A rich and valuable resource for readers wanting to understand the intricacies of one of the most critical junctures in recent Gulf history.’ -- International Affairs‘['Qatar and the Gulf Crisis' is] a detailed and thoughtful book’. -- The World Today‘Ulrichsen has written an essential book for anyone looking for an entry into the Gulf crisis or for a comprehensive read on this regional tension … Qatar and the Gulf Crisis [presents] a compelling and consistent summary of abundant information.’ -- LSE Review of Books'A brilliant account of the history, origins and evolution of the Gulf crisis--drawing meticulously upon media and academic sources, and direct interviews with leading protagonists in the region, Ulrichsen once again confirms himself as an outstanding observer of Gulf politics today.' -- Adam Hanieh, SOAS University of London, author of 'Money, Markets, and Monarchies: The Gulf Cooperation Council and the Political Economy of the Contemporary Middle East'‘Ulrichsen draws on an impressive range of sources in order to provide a panoramic account of contemporary power politics across the Gulf. This important and timely book deserves to be read by anyone seeking to understand the intricacies of the Qatar diplomatic crisis.’ -- Gerasimos Tsourapas, Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics, University of Birmingham

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Book SynopsisIn 2018, journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi regime operatives, shocking the international community and tarnishing the reputation of Muhammad bin Salman, the kingdom’s young, reformist crown prince. Domestically, bin Salman's reforms have proven divisive, and his adoption of populist nationalism and fierce repression of diverse critical voices—religious scholars, feminists and dissident youth—have failed to silence a vibrant and well-connected Saudi society. Madawi Al-Rasheed lays bare the world of repression behind the crown prince's reforms. She dissects the Saudi regime's propaganda and progressive new image, while also dismissing Orientalist views that despotism is the only pathway to stable governance in the Middle East. Charting old and new challenges to the fragile Saudi nation from the kingdom's very inception, this blistering book exposes the dangerous contradictions at the heart of the Son King's Saudi Arabia.Trade Review‘This book heralds the emergence of an organized political opposition in the growing Saudi Arabian diaspora.’ -- Foreign Affairs'Anyone interested in what is happening in Saudi Arabia will find [this] a good read … The Son King joins the growing body of work that unmasks the reality of repression in the Kingdom and challenges the simplistic notion of Saudi Arabians as religious extremists who need a royal strongman to keep them in check.’ -- Middle East Monitor'Packed with information about Saudi Arabia that is fascinating in its own right ... [Al-Rasheed] offers many invaluable insights into a country whose future may be less certain than it looks to outsiders.' * The Tablet *'With MBS a stone's throw away from the throne of Saudi Arabia, this book couldn't be more urgently needed. Madawi Al-Rasheed sets the crown prince within a wider historical context and exposes the repression behind his image as a "liberal reformer".' -- Iyad El-Baghdadi, writer, activist and founder of the Kawaakibi Foundation'An exceptionally clear-sighted, readable analysis of the regime of Crown Prince Muhammad ibn Salman. With consummate skill, Al-Rasheed has dissected his programme of populist nationalism, bringing to light the methods used, but also the contradictions at its heart.' -- Charles Tripp, Professor Emeritus of Politics, SOAS University of London'This book felt close to my heart as a woman activist and exile. Madawi Al-Rasheed provides nuanced analysis of reimagined Saudi nationalism, the excessive repression sold as the inevitable price of reforms, and the resistance of a new diaspora movement. A must-read.' -- Hala Al-Dosari, activist and Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow, MIT Center for International Studies'A brilliant response to those who claim that Saudis need enlightened despotism to get ahead. Despotic the Son King surely is, but his lights are off, and he is driving his country--and the region--into the wall. Woe to the land whose king is a child.' -- Pascal Menoret, Renée and Lester Crown Professor of Modern Middle East Studies, Brandeis University'Madawi Al-Rasheed brilliantly goes beyond the overused dichotomy between "reform" and "tradition" and studies the social and political realities of Saudi Arabia's new era. From populist nationalism to a growing Saudi diaspora, "The Son King" is an essential book for understanding the crown prince's kingdom.' -- Abdullah Alaoudh, Visiting Adjunct Professor, George Washington University

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Book SynopsisMuhammad bin Salman Al-Saud and Muhammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the respective princely strongmen of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have torn up the old rules. They have spurred game-changing economic master plans, presided over vast anti-corruption crackdowns, tackled entrenched religious forces, and overseen the mass arrest of critics. In parallel, they also appear to have replaced the old 'sheikhly' consensus systems of their predecessors with something more autocratic, more personalistic, and perhaps even analytically distinct. These are the two wealthiest and most populous Gulf monarchies, and increasingly important global powers--Saudi Arabia is a G20 member, and the UAE will be the host of the World Expo in 2021-2022. Such sweeping changes to their statecraft and authority structures could well end up having a direct impact, for better or worse, on policies, economies and individual lives all around the world. Christopher M. Davidson tests the hypothesis that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now effectively contemporary or even 'advanced' sultanates, and situates these influential states within an international model of autocratic authoritarianism. Drawing on a range of primary sources, including new interviews and surveys, 'From Sheikhs to Sultanism' puts forward an original, empirically grounded interpretation of the rise of both MBS and MBZ.Trade Review‘As with Davidson’s other works, [From Sheikhs to Sultanism] is written in clear, even entertaining prose, uncluttered by jargon. It is far and away the best work on these two leaders, the regimes they have created, and the sultanistic version of authoritarian developmental states.’

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Book SynopsisFor four decades Saudi Arabia and Iran have vied for influence in the Muslim world. At the heart of this ongoing Cold War between Riyadh and Tehran lie the Sunni–Shia divide, and the two countries' intertwined histories. Saudis see this as a conflict between Sunni and Shia; Iran’s ruling clerics view it as one between their own Islamic Republic and an illegitimate monarchy. This foundational schism has played out in a geopolitical competition for dominance in the region: Iran has expanded its influence in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, while Saudi Arabia’s hyperactive crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman, has intervened in Yemen, isolated Qatar and destabilised Lebanon. Dilip Hiro examines the toxic rivalry between the two countries, tracing its roots and asking whether this Islamic Cold War is likely to end any time soon.Trade Review'The contemporary great game playing out bloodily between oil-fired theocracies in Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran is the subject of Dilip Hiro’s latest book. He tells the story with relish.' * The Financial Times *'The book has a racy pace and is rich in reportage . . . Hiro marshals an enormous amount of fact and anecdote as he recounts the manner in which regional and global events unfold . . . a rich tapestry.' * Financial Express *'Hiro is a wonderful raconteur . . . few have told the story of tensions between Riyadh and Tehran quite as well as him.' * LSE Middle East Centre Blog *'One comes away from Dilip Hiro’s new book Cold War in the Islamic World with a heightened appreciation for the complexities of politics in the Islamic world. It is a world where geopolitics and religion intersect in a struggle for power and survival among Islamic regimes.' * New York Journal of Books *‘Dilip Hiro is one of the most prolific scholars of the Middle East, and there is little that escapes his notice. In this volume, he takes an in-depth look at the new cold war that is brewing in the region . . . a welcome addition to the literature.’ * Survival *'Eminent historian and prolific author Hiro . . . focuses on a pertinent crucible of roiling tension in the region . . . an important study for understanding the roots of current tensions [between Saudi Arabia and Iran].' * Kirkus Reviews *‘Hiro provides the reader with a perspective rarely found in most texts regarding the Middle East . . . [a] nuanced portrayal of the complex history of these nations, their relationship and its consequences for the region and the world at large.’ * CounterPunch *'Hiro treats the subject deeply and thoroughly.' * Foreign Affairs *'Iran and Saudi Arabia anchor the sweeping text, which ranges from Pakistan to Egypt and detours as far back as the seventh-century Sunni-Shi'a divide. [Hiro's] mix of lively writing and serious detail should draw in readers … with any interest in the subject.' * Choice *‘A suitable introduction to the Iranian-Saudi relations for someone wanting to go beyond the headlines … Trying to capture the vast sweep of this relationship in a single text is a monumental task … To Hiro’s credit, his account is fairly balanced. The research is also impressive in its breadth.’ * Middle East Journal *'[A] monumental study.' * Business Standard *'The book, based on Hiro's years of research and travels as a journalist, is terse in reporting historical details with disciplined focus on motivations. It is an easier read for those who closely follow news from the Middle East though scholars are sure to appreciate his thoughtful juxtaposition of events that underscore patterns.' * YaleGlobal Online *‘Captures very nicely the march of political history in the Middle East and the Gulf during the last hundred years.’‘An excellent book . . . extremely engaging and accessible.' * Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen, author of The First World War in the Middle East *‘Ambitious, impressive, original, and important.' * Mehran Kamrava, author of Inside the Arab State *

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Book SynopsisIn 1920s Shanghai, Zhou Enlai founded the first Chinese communist spy network, operating in the shadows against nationalists, Western powers and the Japanese. The story of Chinese spies has been a global one from the start. Unearthing previously unseen papers and interviewing countless insiders, Roger Faligot's astonishing account reveals nothing less than a century of world events shaped by Chinese spies. Working as scientists, journalists, diplomats, foreign students and businessmen, they’ve been everywhere, from Stalin’s purges to 9/11 to Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan. This murky world has swept up Ho Chi Minh, the Clintons and everyone in between, with the action moving from Cambodia to Cambridge, and from the Australian outback to the centres of Western power. This fascinating narrative exposes the sprawling tentacles of the world’s largest intelligence service, from the very birth of communist China to Xi Jinping’s absolute rule today.Trade Review'With increasing tensions in the trade war between America and China, concerns about the future of democracy in Hong Kong, and the controversy surrounding Huawei's 5G mobile networks, “Chinese Spies” is a very timely and important book.' -- The Wall Street Journal'Faligot's detailed and fascinating account of Chinese espionage over the past century argues that "today the community of Chinese security and intelligence services is the largest in the world". . . impressive in its level of detail.' * The Sunday Times *'Faligot, an intrepid French researcher, has for 40 years constructed an encyclopaedic private archive of Chinese intelligence. . . Chinese Spies, is an enjoyable treasure trove of conspiracy theories. . . . spicy enough to keep the general reader awake at night.' * The Times *'The growing competition between Washington and Beijing is not the immediate subject of Faligot's history of Chinese intelligence . . . [but] it provides a significant part of the story of how we got to this point. Faligot has an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of China's spy agencies . . . contains many fascinating stories.' * Financial Times *'Mr Faligot writes evocatively … [Chinese Spies is an] engrossing book.' -- The Economist'A landmark book.' * Paris Match *'Roger Faligot fuses an encyclopaedic knowledge of this murky world and its characters with anecdotes that are sometimes comical and often colourful.' * Le Point *‘This book could not be more timely … [it] includes fascinating spy stories …and colorful characters.’ -- Asian Review of Books'This is an intense book. [Chinese Spies] is the result of huge research but also demonstrates the author's immense knowledge of the politics, attitudes and identities of the political elite of the People's Republic of China.''The expert Roger Faligot offers an enthralling, years-long investigation into the Chinese secret services, delving behind the scenes of Beijing's global strategy.' * Le Parisien *'China is not just a country with intelligence services, but rather an intelligence state. In this wide-ranging book, Faligot traces this trajectory from pre-revolutionary Shanghai to the present and reveals a phenomenon for which the West is ill-prepared.' -- Nigel Inkster, former Director of Operations and Intelligence, MI6, and Director of Transnational Threats & Political Risk, IISS'No stone is left unturned in Faligot's astounding and exhaustive who's who of Chinese espionage. The revelations prove as scary as the revolutions. Anyone inclined to welcome China's rediscovered world stature needs to read this book.' -- John Keay, author of 'China: A History''An astounding and unmatched source book on the extraordinary reach of the PRC's intelligence network... At once fascinating and chilling, it's a book I found hard to put down.' -- Clive Hamilton

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Book SynopsisThe Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 was the result of declining active support for the government, and of waste and inefficiency in aid delivery. Yet, while corrosive, these problems were not in themselves sufficient to have brought about a collapse. To a significant degree, they were the result of early failings in institutional design, reflecting an American inclination to pursue short-term policy approaches that created perverse incentives—thus interfering with the long-term objective of stability. This book exposes the true factors underpinning Kabul’s fall. The Afghan Republic came under relentless attack from Taliban insurgents who depended critically on Pakistani support. It also suffered a creeping invasion that put the government on the back foot as the US tried and failed to deal with Pakistan’s perfidy. The fatal blow came when bored US leaders naively cut an exit deal with the enemy, fatally compromising the operation of the Afghan army and air force and triggering the final collapse, with top leaders at odds over whether to make a final stand in Kabul. The Afghan Republic did not simply decline and fall. It was betrayed.Trade Review‘A well-written publication that will contribute to the ongoing and necessary debate about the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban and the current situation in the country.’ -- Informed Comment'This detailed account of the decisions and misjudgements that led to the fall of the Republic and the Taliban's return to power is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand why the twenty-year campaign ended this way.' -- Sir Laurie Bristow, British Ambassador to Afghanistan 2021 -- Sir Laurie Bristow, British Ambassador to Afghanistan 2021'A brilliant account by two of the most experienced, informed and insightful observers of Afghanistan, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to know how a twenty-year effort that started so confidently came to such a calamitous end.' -- David Kilcullen, co-author of 'The Ledger: Accounting for Failure in Afghanistan''A definitive account, including mistakes of US diplomacy that contributed to the debacle, which will be invaluable for policymakers seeking to make sense of the disaster and learn lessons for the future.' -- Lisa Curtis, Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program, Center for a New American Security'A brilliant analysis of everything that went wrong in Afghanistan's post-9/11 journey from darkness to light and back to darkness, exploring Pakistani duplicity as well as failures in Afghan political leadership and US diplomacy. Sobering, chilling and compelling reading.' -- Gareth Evans, former Australian Foreign Minister and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group'An exceptional scholarly work, offering eye-opening insight into the strategic and military failure of the US and allies' intervention.' -- Timor Sharan, author of 'Inside Afghanistan''Distinguishing between the gradual weakening, and the sudden collapse of the Republic of Afghanistan, this is a must-read. Jamal and Maley are uniquely well-informed, engage interestingly with relevant theory, and are unmistakably critical of those who have advocated peace with the Taliban.' -- Kristian Berg Harpviken, Research Professor, Peace Research Institute Oslo'This is the most comprehensive account written so far of Afghanistan's twenty years as a Republic, beginning with the US intervention after 9/11 and ending with the Taliban's return to power. The authors explain events in the context of Afghan society and politics, and spare none for their mistakes: the US for ignoring ground realities, Pakistan for supporting the Taliban resurgence, and Afghan leaders for not putting country above self, clan, or faction. An illuminating book.' -- Husain Haqqani, former ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, and author of 'Magnificent Delusions: Pakistan, the United States, and an Epic History of Misunderstanding'

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Book Synopsis Kharkiv is Ukraine’s second largest city and its former capital. Situated within 40 km of the Ukrainian-Russian border it is one of those East-Central European “liminal” cities which became a center of modernization and pluralization in the borderland area, playing a prominent role in the process of nation building. Volodymyr Kravchenko’s expanded edition of Kharkov/Kharkiv, now in the English-language and including a new chapter on the reconfiguration of the Ukrainian-Russian borderland during and after the watershed Euromaidan event, uniquely uncovers the city’s long history, from the 17th century to today. Addressing issues of regional and national identities, Ukrainian-Russian relations, mental mapping, historical narratives and the ensuing de/reconstruction of national mythologies, this book, fills a unique gap in the literature on Kharkiv.Trade Review “Kharkov/Kharkiv deals with exceptionally important and politically and culturally contested questions of regionalism in Eastern Europe and provides unique insight into the history of Ukraine and to a lesser degree Russia…I know no other author who could write with such authority, depth and nuance a history of the region which was always difficult to “capture” and explain within the limits of existing national narratives” • Serhii Plokhii, Harvard UniversityTable of Contents List of maps List of illustrations Preface Acknowledgements Notes on Transliteration Introduction Chapter 1. The Steppe Borderland Chapter 2. Town and Gown Chapter 3. Province in Search of an Identity Chapter 4. City, Empire, Nation Chapter 5. To the “First Capital” and back Chapter 6. Post-Soviet Borderland Chapter 7. The Frontline Conclusions Historical timeline Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis timely 2 volume edited collection looks at the extent and nature of global jihad, focusing on the often-exoticised hinterlands of jihad beyond the traditionally viewed Middle Eastern ‘centre’. As ISIS loses its footing in Syria and Iraq and al-Qaeda regroups this comprehensive account will be a key work in the on-going battle to better understand the dynamics of the jihads global reality. Critically examining the global reach of the jihad in these peripheries has the potential to tell us much about patterns of both local mobilisation, and local rejection of a grander centrally themed and administered jihad. Has the periphery been receptive to an exported jihad from the centre or does the local rooted cosmopolitanism of the jihad in the periphery suggest a more complex glocal relationship? These questions and challenges are more pertinent than ever as the likes of ISIS and many commentators, attempt to globally rebrand the jihad and as the centre reasserts its claims to the exotic periphery. Edited by Tom Smith (Portsmouth), Kirsten E. Schulze (LSE) and Hussein Solomon (UFS) the two volumes critically examine the various claims of connections between jihadist terrorism in the ‘periphery’, remote Islamist insurgencies of the ‘periphery’ and the global jihad. Each volume draws on experts in each of the geographies in question. The global nature of the jihad is too often taken for granted; yet the extent of the glocal connections deserve focused investigation. Without such inquiry we risk a reductive understanding of the global jihad, further fostering Orientalist and Eurocentric attitudes towards local conflicts and remote violence in the periphery. This book will therefore draw attention to those who overlook and undermine the distinct and rich particularities of the often-contradictory and cosmopolitan global jihad. In many of the peripheries, particularly those with intensive large-scale insurgencies, there is extensive international military alliance. The Bush doctrine to ‘fight them over there, so we don't have to fight them over here’ certainly looks to be alive and well in places like Somalia, the Philippines and Niger amongst many others. Crucially we must ask - is such reasoning sound – is the threat global and if so in what way? Furthermore - is action in the peripheries under the guise of combating the global jihad overlooking the local issues and threatening to make a wider threat where it was otherwise contained? Diagnosing nations or regions as ‘breeding grounds’ or ‘sanctuaries’ of global jihad carries the spectre of having to chose sides in a battle of civilisations, which looms over a number of developing nations reliant on good western relations.Trade ReviewOne topic, two volumes, three editors, four continents, 23 chapters and 28 authors. And a bibliography that sources thousands of others. No other collection could claim to come close to such comprehensive coverage on ‘Global Jihad’. These volumes are a requisite on the connections between center and periphery and glocal - the cosmopolitan global. * Dr Glen Segell, University of Haifa *Table of ContentsABOUT THE EDITORS CONTRIBUTOR BIOS INTRODUCTION: EXAMINING THE GLOBAL LINKAGES OF AFRICAN AND EUROPEAN JIHADISTS ‘GLOCALISED’ JIHAD, POLITICAL CONFLICT, AND CONSPIRACY THEORISATION ACROSS A FRAGMENTED SOMALIA GLOBAL OR LOCAL? EXPLORING THE EMERGENCE AND OPERATION OF A VIOLENT ISLAMIST NETWORK IN KENYA REFLECTIONS ON ISLAMIST MILITANCY IN THE SAHEL JIHAD IN MALI: REGIONAL CONDITIONS, REGIONAL GOALS, GLOBAL IMPORTANCE NIGERIA: THE RISE AND ‘FALL’ OF BOKO HARAM LIBYAN JIHADISM: FROM GADHAFI AND TRIBALISM TO THE ARAB SPRING AND TRIBALISM JIHAD AND THE UNITED KINGDOM CONFRONTING ORIENTALISM, COLONIALISM AND DETERMINISM: DE-CONSTRUCTING CONTEMPORARY FRENCH JIHADISM EXPORTING JIHAD FROM THE STREET-LEVEL GROUPS IN THE LOW COUNTRIES SCANDINAVIAN JIHAD THE EVOLUTION OF THE JIHAD IN GERMANY AL-ANDALUS: THE CALIPHATE OF CORDOBA REIMAGINED

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Book SynopsisThe Art of Creating Power explores the intellectual thought and wider impact--on military affairs, politics and the universities--of Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, one of the world's leading authorities on strategy, conflict and international politics. In this volume, senior scholars of international relations and military history trace the long trajectory of Freedman's career, examining his scholarly contribution to a whole host of areas from nuclear strategy to US foreign policy via terrorism, the Falklands and Iraq. Individually, these essays provide fascinating and innovative insights into strategy, contemporary defence and foreign policy, and conflict. Taken together, however, they are greater than the sum of their parts as they both reflect and explore the theoretical approach adopted and taught by Freedman - one that has made him one of the great intellectual figures in the canon of international politics, strategy and war. Throughout his professional life, Freedman explored many of the uncertainties that plague our highly unstable world. But as conflicts continue to erupt across the globe, it seems we may be entering an even more precarious and uncertain era.There could hardly be a better time than today to gain a deeper understanding of Freedman's strategic insights.Trade Review'Appropriate for specialised strategic studies collections.'

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Book SynopsisWhen South Sudan's war began, the Beatles were playing their first hits and reaching the moon was an astronaut's dream. Half a century later, with millions massacred in Africa's longest war, the continent's biggest country split in two. It was an extraordinary, unprecedented experiment. Many have fought, but South Sudan did the impossible, and won. This is the story of an epic fight for freedom. It is also the story of a nightmare. First Raise a Flag details one of the most dramatic failures in the history of international state-building. Three years after independence, South Sudan was lowest ranked in the list of failed states. War returned, worse than ever. Peter Martell has spent over a decade reporting from palaces and battlefields, meeting those who made a country like no other: warlords and spies, missionaries and mercenaries, guerrillas and gunrunners, freedom fighters and war crime fugitives, Hollywood stars and ex-slaves. Under his seasoned foreign correspondent's gaze, he weaves with passion and colour the lively history of the world's newest country. First Raise a Flag is a moving reflection on the meaning of nationalism, the power of hope and the endurance of the human spirit. Trade Review‘I relished Peter Martell’s First Raise a Flag , which examines how Africa’s newest nation state plunged back into civil war so soon after its hopeful, excited birth. Martell spent more than a decade reporting the story and it’s an account full of vivid, telling detail.’'[A] readable, rigorous and important account of the tragedy of the world’s youngest nation . . Martell’s experience, gained over years of living in and reporting on the country, is invaluable . . . his writing is powerful and moving.’ '[A] striking and moving evocation of the terrible last sixty years [South Sudan] has undergone . . . this book is a labour of love for the people of South Sudan and an expression of hope for their future.'‘I was utterly gripped by Peter Martell’s superbly written 'First Raise a Flag: How South Sudan Won the Longest War but Lost the Peace.' It’s expertly organised and holds the reader from start to finish.’ -- Middle East Eye Books of the Year 2019, selected by Peter Oborne‘[Martell conducts] remarkable interviews with ageing mercenaries and retired spies … [his] account elegantly reinforces again and again how almost none of [the] foreign interventions were about South Sudan itself.’ -- Rory Stewart in 'The New York Review of Books'‘Contains fascinating tales from his reporting as South Sudan prepared for, celebrated and then dealt with the realities of independence. … detailed, wonderfully accessible work for those interested in South Sudan and the dilemmas of new statehood.’ -- Washington Post, The Monkey Cage Blog'It's [Martell's] first-person account that drives this compelling, harrowing story. . . . This is an important and deeply moving book.' * Geographical *‘[A] gut-wrenching chronicle of human depravity that shows how ordinary people can become barbarians.’ -- Foreign Affairs'One of those who has covered South Sudan the longest, Martell combines eyewitness reporting with extensive research to produce a solid account of this tragedy.''This is a remarkable piece of work. It manages to pull off the rare feat of being both meticulously-researched and extremely accessible. Putting any journalistic ego to one side, Martell gives us the benefits of over a decade of reportage. He wades through yellowing colonial archives, tracks down Mossad operatives and quizzes white mercenaries, but it's the experiences and reflections of the South Sudanese men and women who shaped and lived this turbulent history that dominate the narrative.' -- Michela Wrong, author of 'Borderlines' and 'It's Our Turn to Eat''Peter Martell arrived earlier and stayed longer than any of us who covered South Sudan’s independence and the bloody catastrophe that followed. Here he reveals the foundation of his insightful, precise reports: a deep, first-hand knowledge of the centuries of history of how the world’s newest nation came to be, stuffed with insightful research, delightful details and searing lessons for those bright-eyed foreigners of yesterday and today so in love with their own idea of freedom that they feel they must impose it on others. Lyrical, revelatory, quietly outraged and deeply moving.' -- Alex Perry, author of 'The Rift: A New Africa Breaks Free''Peter Martell’s combination of eye-witness reporting and historical research makes for a compelling account of the bloody birth of South Sudan. A highly readable book about the world’s newest country, and a study of what it means to be a nation.' -- Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor, Channel 4 News, and author of 'Sandstorm: Libya in the Time of Revolution''First Raise a Flag is an engrossing read that combines years of journalistic insight with compassionate storytelling and deciphers the complex recent history of the world’s youngest country.' -- Levison Wood, author of 'Walking the Nile' and other works of non-fiction'First Raise a Flag is an eloquently written and admirably lucid account of the dramatic birth, and ongoing death, of South Sudan. It is a remarkable story. As the world’s newest nation plunged into civil war and became a failed state, Peter Martell has been a stubborn, compassionate eyewitness, and he deserves high praise for this unflinching elegy for an ill-starred place that he has — despite everything — come to love.' -- Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker staff writer, and author of 'Guerrillas: Journeys in the Insurgent World'

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Book SynopsisWe are living in a unique "geo" age, where geography is appreciated again. The 21st century encompasses political and economic games where the multi-polar world, a new world order, and a new value system combine to develop new actors and new Industries. Business leaders are focusing more and more on global social issues, putting pressure on international political decisions such as the Space Race, global warming and migration. The 21st century is the era of knowledge & creativity (technology + knowledge + geography = "techknowledgeography" or Geofusion) where education and innovation are the most important investment. Knowledge is the currency of the future. When drawn with knowledge, the map of 21st century can be utilized to discover and conform to this new world! This book helps to explain how `Geofusion' provides the opportunities, which can give lasting value to the world.

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Book SynopsisPalestine, 1850: a backwater of the Ottoman Empire, but soon to become the focus of intense jealousies. Locally Arabs and Jews became increasingly polarised, internationally the vacuum left by the demise of the Ottoman Empire was filled with the rivalries of Western nations.This book is a vivid account, told through oral history and a wealth of photographs from the time, never previously published. They add new dimensions to our understanding of the history, the geography, and the human reality of Palestine.

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Book SynopsisAll too often, modern scholarship limits its scope according to the boundaries of contemporary nations and current geopolitical borders. Academic expertise frequently ties itself artificially to these pre-defined spaces and in so doing often does a disservice to the past. It is no great revelation to point out that people of the past defined the limits of their political and cultural reach in ways that were very different from those found on modern maps. Ancient rulers, merchants, and priests understood the reach of their influence and defined foreignness in ways that would be deeply unfamiliar to those only knowledgeable of the modern world. Yet, despite the well-recognized truth in these observations, it is still relatively rare for scholars to research in ways that transcend modern boundaries. This collection of essays invites readers to take a broad view of South Asian art and culture by providing a wide geographic and chronological scope.

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Book SynopsisThe Gwadar Deep Sea Port Project being developed in Balochistan at the crossroads of South Asia and West Asia is the largest developmental project being undertaken in Pakistan and kickstarts development in a hitherto undeveloped region and brings in an extra-regional powerChina. Its location at the entrance of the Gulf, the continued unstable environment in the Gulf region after the Gulf War and the emergence of the Central Asian States have enhanced the geo-strategic significance of the port. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had realised its significance and was keen to gain access to Gwadar for an opening to the Indian Ocean. Pakistan has been interested in the project to gain strategic depth further to the southwest from its major ports in the Karachi-Bin Qasim Complex that has long been vulnerable to the Indian Navy as was reflected in 1971.

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Book SynopsisDelve into the complex and fascinating relationship between two South Asian neighbours with Lieutenant General Shokin Chauhan`s groundbreaking new book on the Indo-Nepal strategic partnership. A decorated military leader and respected scholar, General Chauhan takes you on a journey through the shared history of India and Nepal. Discover the centuries old bonds forged through trade, culture, and interwoven destinies, shaping a relationship critical to the region`s stability. Gain a deeper understanding of the strategic geography that places Nepal uniquely between two powers. Examine detailed maps and analyses to unlock the geopolitical considerations at play and their potential impact on both nations.

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Book SynopsisHow is India recalibrating its strategic thinking to deal with a tumultuous world that often, and increasingly, appearsuntethered and upside down?

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Book SynopsisThe equilibrium and understanding between India and China that was built on the premise that both were at the same level of development, and hence need to give full play to their complementarities and potentialities, has seemingly shifted, owing to the balance of power favouring China. Finding new equilibrium and understanding will not be easy given India`s asymmetrical relationship with China. The nature of India-China coexistence, cooperation and competition will be determined by factors such as how quickly the narrative of India's rise regains traction, India and China`' relations with major and middle powers, strategic and economic partnerships with major regional blocks, India's role in global supply chains, and the Quad and Indo-Pacific Strategy. This book arranges author B. R. Deepak's articles from the Sunday Guardian into eight sections, exploring the multi-faceted relationship.

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Book SynopsisThe book is about assessing the effectiveness of a traditional UN Peace Operation. The book first goes on to develop a conceptual framework for the evaluation of UN peace operations and apply that to assess the performance of a traditional UN Peace Operation with UNIFIL as a case study. The author relies on empirical data, supported by perceptions and practical experiences of peacekeepers and 'subject matter experts' at both the operational and tactical levels using a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative analysis. The author proves that UNIFIL can be assessed to be a satisfactorily successful UN Peace Operation. He ends the book with a few major takeaways and offers actionable recommendations to the practitioners of peacekeeping and for future reform of UN peace operations. This book is the first of its kind by a former Indian peacekeeper who holds a PhD from Tilburg University, the Netherland.

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Book SynopsisAmerican Indo-Pacific policy will be driven by its China policy, regardless of whether there is a second-term Donald Trump administration or a first-term Joe Biden administration.The Republicans will continue to frame the major challenge as “balancing” against Chinese power and “countering” the worst aspects of Beijing’s policies. Establishment or moderate Democrats under Biden will choose the softer language of seeking a favourable “competitive coexistence” in the military, economic, political and global governance realms, and the reassertion of American leadership and moral standing.In advancing the FOIP, the current administration argues that disruptiveness and unpredictability are necessary to reverse what they see as the “normalization” of Chinese assertiveness, coercion and revisionism. They also point to the closeness of US cooperation with Japan, Australia and India and bourgeoning strategic relationships with Vietnam. A second-term Trump administration will continue to seek out “fit-for-purpose” existing institutions and relationships, or prioritize new ones.Establishment Democrats believe that the “America First” unilateralist approach is unsettling for allies and partners. In advancing a favourable “competitive coexistence” with China, Democrats will seek to expand the tools of statecraft and achieve a better balance between military/economic/political/governance approaches.Prima facie, a Biden administration might position America as a more consultative guarantor of a preferred order. However, there will be greater pressure on Southeast Asians to accept more collective responsibility to advance common objectives. This means hedging in a manner more suitable to American rather than Chinese preferences. Failing that, more emphasis might be placed on greater institutionalization of the Quad and ad hoc groupings.A Bernie Sanders administration, now an unlikely prospect, would be a disaster for US standing and power in the region, and therefore for Southeast Asia.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2023 Marc Raeff Book Prize; A 2023 REFORC Book Award Longlist TitleThis book highlights the main features and trends of Russian “political” thought in an era when sovereignty, state, and politics, as understood in Western Christendom, were non-existent in Russia, or were only beginning to be articulated. It concentrates on enigmatic authors and sources that shaped official perception of rulership, or marked certain changes of importance of this perception. Special emphasis is given to those written and visual sources that point towards depersonalization and secularization of rulership in Russia. A comparison with Western Christendom frames the argument throughout the book, both in terms of ideas and the practical aspects of state-building, allowing the reader to ponder Russia’s differentia specifica.Trade Review“The book by Endre Sashalmi… is an erudite and thoughtful exploration of Russian thinking on the nature of power, authority, and self-determination over the period of some two and a half centuries that culminated in the era of Peter the Great. The book is based on a wide array of primary sources and provides an indispensable survey of Western and Russian historiography. Steeped in comparative and contextual methodology, the book offers an impressive synthesis of trajectories of the understanding of state and sovereignty in the West and in early modern Russia. … This book makes an important contribution to the growing body of research on the history of political ideas and political language in early modern Russia, rather than yet another survey of Russian political thought. While eschewing a conventional pre- and post-Petrine divide, Sashalmi offers a much-needed prequel to works on the eighteenth century, especially those by scholars associated with the recently shuttered German Historical Institute in Moscow.”— Olga Tsapina, Ab Imperio"E. Sashalmi has chosen a fascinating subject, and he has shown all its richness in a long term perspective, as well as its current relevance." — Pierre Gonneau, Revue des études slaves (translated from the French)“Russia Notions of Power and State meticulously reconstructs medieval and early modern sources to provide a coherent account of the Russian state and power that is shown to be different from European concepts and unique to Russian civilization. It helps explain why the rule of law is arbitrarily applied in Russia, why territorial integrity is considered so vital to Russian national interests, and why Russian rulers are not just leaders but embody the state itself in the person and actions. For those interested in what makes the Russian state distinctive and different from its western counterparts, Russian Notions of Power and State provides a clear picture why and helps us better understand Russian action and strategy in our increasingly fractured and contentious world.”— Lee Trepanier, VoegelinView“Sashalmi’s book gives a comprehensive analysis of the Russian notions of power and state, and provides critical analyses of the terminologies used by Western scholars. It is a valuable resource for academicians, researchers and students who study the history of the Russian state structure.”— Ayse Dietrich, International Journal of Russian Studies“[T]he book under review by a leading Hungarian specialist on medieval and Petrine Russian history has many insights to offer. … Although written by a civilian rather than a legal historian, this is a volume that belongs in an advanced international law collection.”— William E. Butler, Jus Gentium (Vol. 8, No. 1)“Sashalmi’s work meticulously chronicles the genesis and evolution of Russia’s modern state, and the notions behind its meaning and power—becoming an essential reference point for scholars of the long eighteenth century.” — ECRSA 2023 Marc Raeff Book Prize CommitteeTable of ContentsIntroduction. Explanation of Aims, Genre, and Terminology PART ONE. Russia and Europe: Clarification of Terms and the Problem of the State1. Issues of Methodology, Reception, and the Benefits of a Long-Term Approach 2. Territoriality, the Name, and the Nature of the Polity: From the Principality of Moscow to the Russian Empire3. The Idea of the State in Western Christendom in the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Era4. The Role of Metaphors and Allegorical Personifications in the Development of the Concept of the State in Western Christendom5. The Meaning(s) of European Perspective6. The Birth and Meaning of the “Russian State Narrative” 7. The Consequences of the State Narrative: The Discovery of Gosudarstvo by Russian History-Writing8. Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Muscovite Perceptions of Ruling Power: Characteristics and Methodological Aspects of a Comparison with Western Christendom9. The Problem of SamoderzhaviePART TWO. Notions of Power and State in the Context of “Proprietary Dynasticism”: Russia and the Western Perspective10. Richard Pipes’s Patrimonial Interpretation of Russia Reconsidered in the Light of “Proprietary Dynasticism”11. Aspects of Rulership and Their Relation to Each Other in Early Modern Europe and Russia: Proprietary, Office, and Divine Right12. Divine Right of Kings and Divine Right of Tsars: Aspects and Lessons of a ComparisonPART THREE. The Origins of Theory of Law and State in the Works of Feofan Prokopovich: An Intellectual from the Kievan Nest in the Service of Peter the Great13. Turning Points in the Life of Feofan Prokopovich, and His Most Important Political Works14. Preliminary Notes on Prokopovich’s Theory of Law and State15. Power, State, Law, Sovereignty, and Contractualism in Feofan Prokopovich’s Writings16. Female Allegorical Personification of Russia during the Reign of Peter the Great and His Successors: Visual and Written Sources, and the Notion of StateEpilogue: The Importance of Gosudarstvennost′ in Contemporary RussiaBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis open access anthology takes a holistic approach to how Russia carries out hybrid warfare against its neighbouring countries - states at the intersection between the East and West. The book addresses the vulnerabilities of these countries to Russian influence and hybrid warfare tactics, as well as their responses to this security challenge. It includes a close examination of local developments in states such as Ukraine, Belarus, Finland, Armenia, Serbia and many others, analysing specific scenarios and practices, and draws on these observations to develop the current conceptual understanding of hybrid warfare as a phenomenon. Scholarship frequently focuses only on Russia and treats countries subjected to Russian hybrid measures as passive victims, thus providing an overly schematic picture of Russian behaviour. This book instead treats these states as actors in their own right, assessing their potential to address and counter the specific security problems arising

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Book SynopsisEdoardo Giglio is a seasoned professional at the intersection of technology and strategic risk, drawing from a distinguished career that spans continents and industries. A polymath with academic credentials from the University of London's School of Oriental & African Studies, City Law School, The London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Cambridge, and the American Military University, Edoardo has mastered disciplines ranging from political science and international law to emerging technology, cyber strategy and space studies. Having worked in covert intelligence and as a High-Tech Crime/CID investigator with New Scotland Yard, Edoardo's expertise in cybersecurity, technology innovation strategies , and geopolitical threats informs his captivating narratives. His entrepreneurial journey, always at the forefront of technology and strategic risk, has led him to advise Forbes20 HNWI, multinationals, and international organizations. As the former head of a private risk advisory firm he founded, Edoardo's career has taken him to some of the world's most remote and challenging locations, from the African savannah to the deserts of the Middle East, imbuing his work with authenticity and vividness. Now an advisor to governments, Edoardo's thought-provoking perspective weaves together technology, innovation, and their profound effects on geopolitics.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Honorable Mention for the Jervis Schroeder Prize, American Political Science Association International History & Politics Section""With chapters on the rise of China, how to meld political economy questions into classical realist theories, and even exploring the potential weaknesses and shortfalls of classical realism, An Unwritten Future thoughtfully assesses the question of what it would mean in practice to reinsert classical realist perspectives into ongoing policy debates."---Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs"An enlightening reevaluation of an enduring theory that might continue to yield important insights about world politics today." * Choice *"Erudite and contentious. It is the kind of work that could only be written by a senior scholar building upon and summing up a long, distinguished career’s work in the field. . . . Its views and astonishing breadth of knowledge are on display not only in its wide-ranging historical and exegetical text but also in its extensive footnotes with their numerous analytic observations. . . . all will be dazzled by the range of the learned discussion."---Arthur Stein, Perspectives on Politics"Kirshner's commanding plea for the resurgence of classical realism could not be more timely." * Political Science Quarterly *"Kirshner's timely, insightful, and thought-provoking book proposes a much-needed renewal of classical realism. This important contribution highlights the need for policy-makers and scholars to appreciate the theory's insights more fully."---Charlotte Hulme, International Affairs"An important new book. . . . Kirshner aims to rehabilitate classical realism in International Relations."---Sumantra Maitra, Law & Liberty"A compelling case for reviving classical realism as a guide to understanding contemporary problems."---Joshua Rovner, Englesberg Ideas"Kirshner reclaims the timeless value that Classical Realism offers for the study of international relations."---Christoph Rohde, Zeitschrift fuer Aussen & Sicherheitspolitik

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the PROSE Award in World History, Association of American Publishers"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the MSA Book Prize, Modernist Studies Association""A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Kalliney’s book is an intriguing read for those interested in understanding the Cold War and situating the relationship between the state and anticolonial writers."---Christina Obolenskaya, LSE Review of Books"A wonderful addition to the reevaluation of mid-century literary products."---A. S. Newson-Horst, Choice"A groundbreaking work. . . . [The Aesthetic Cold War] points to a prehistory of postcolonial literature that is almost never discussed in the field."---Nivedita Majumdar, Catalyst

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Book SynopsisExamines how the French left perceived and used the image of the United States against the backdrop of major historical developments in both countries between the Revolution of 1848 and the Paris Commune of 1871. Along the way, Tom Sancton weaves in the voices of scores of French observers.

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Book SynopsisEPUB and EPDF available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. What is feminist peace? How can we advocate for peace from patriarchy? What do women, globally, advocate for when they use the term 'peace'? This edited collection brings together conversations across borders and boundaries to explore plural, intersectional and interdisciplinary concepts of feminist peace. The book includes contributions from a geographically diverse range of scholars, judges, practitioners and activists, and the chapters cut across themes of movement building and resistance and explore the limits of institutionalized peacebuilding. The chapters deal with a range of issues, such as environmental degradation, militarization, online violence and arms spending. Offering a resource to advance theoretical development and to advocate for policy change, this book transcends traditional approaches to the study of peace and security and embraces diverse voices and perspectives which are absent in both academic and policy spaces.Table of Contents1 Introduction: Conversations on Feminist Peace Sarah Smith and Keina Yoshida Part I Beyond Boundaries 2 Feminist Peace Interrupted: A Critical Conversation on Conflict, Violence, and Accountability Mahdis Azarmandi, Nour Abu-Assab and Sara Shroff 3 ‘Peace’ Across Spaces: Discussing Feminist (and) Decolonial Visions of Peace Elena B. Stavrevska, Sofia Zaragocin Carvajal and Nita Luci 4 Unfinished Activism: Genealogies of Women’s Movements and the Re-Imagining of Feminist Peace and Resistance Itziar Mujika Chao and Linda Gusia Part II Movement Building for Feminist Peace 5 Feminist Peace for Digital Movement Building in Kenya and Ethiopia: Reflections, Lessons, Hopes and Dreams Sheena Gimase Magenya and Tigist Shewarega Hussen 6 No Peace Without Security: Shoring the Gains of the #MeToo Movement Giti Chandra, Cynthia Enloe and Irma Erlingsdottir 7 Feminists Visioning Genuine Security and a Culture of Peace: International Women’s Network Against Militarism Kozue Akibayashi, Corazon Valdez Fabros, Gwyn Kirk, Lisa Linda Natividad and Margo Okazawa-Rey Part III Institutional Peacebuilding and Feminist Peace 8 Building and Conceptualising Feminist Peace: Feminist Strategies and Approaches Helen Kezie-Nwoha, Nela Porobić Isaković, Madeleine Rees and Sarah Smith 9 Perils of Peacebuilding: Gender-Blindness, Climate Change and Ceasefire Capitalism in Colombia and Myanmar Henri Myrttinen and Diana López Castañeda 10 Women, Weapons and Disarmament Louise Arimatsu, Rasha Obaid and Anna De Courcy Wheeler Part IV Feminist Peace in the Academy 11 International Law as a Vehicle for Peace: Feminist Engagements Hilary Charlesworth, Christine Chinkin and Shelley Wright 12 Why Aren’t We Talking to Each Other? Thinking Gender, Conflict and Disaster as a Continuum Punam Yadav and Maureen Fordham 13 Teaching Feminist Peace Through Encounters With Female Violence Gina Heathcote, Elisabeth Koduthore and Sheri Labenski

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Book SynopsisA Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year/Politics Winner of the Jewish Book Council’s Natan Notable Book Prize “One of the most accurate and fascinating books so far” (Michael Bar-Zohar, coauthor of Mossad) about how Israel used sabotage, assassination, cyberwar—and diplomacy—to thwart Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and, in the process, begin to reshape the Middle East.Yonah Bob and Ilan Evyatar describe how Israel has used cyberwarfare, targeted assassinations, and sabotage of Iranian facilities to great effect, sometimes in cooperation with the United States. Even as it takes lethal action, Israel has managed to alter the politics of the Middle East, culminating in the Abraham Accords of 2020. Arab states such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates normalized relations with Israel, and the holy grail of normalization with Saudi Arabia may yet be achieved. Despite the war with Hamas,

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Book Synopsis?For anyone wanting to find out more about the world we live in . . . there is one simple answer: read Noam Chomsky.? ?The New StatesmanFrom one of the world?s most prominent thinkers comes an urgent warning of the threat that U.S. power poses to humanity?s future as well as a sharp indictment of both American foreign policy and the national myths that support it.The Myth of American Idealism offers a timely and comprehensive introduction to the incisive critiques of U.S. power that have made Noam Chomsky a ?global phenomenon,? one of the most widely known public intellectuals of all time. Surveying the history of U.S. military and economic activity around the world, Chomsky and his co-author Nathan J. Robinson vividly trace the way the American pursuit of global domination has wrought havoc in country after country ? without, ironically, making Americans any safer. And they explore how dominant elites in the United States have pushed self-serving myths about this country?s commitment to ?spreading democracy,? while pursuing a reckless foreign policy that served the interest of few and endangered all too many.Chomsky and Robinson range across the globe, offering penetrating accounts of Washington?s relationship with the Global South, its role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ?all justified with noble stories about humanitarian missions and the benevolent intentions of American policy makers. The same kinds of myths that have led to repeated disastrous wars, they argue, are now driving us closer to wars with Russia and China that imperil humanity?s future. Examining nuclear proliferation and climate change, they show how U.S. policies are continuing to exacerbate global threats.For well over half a century, Noam Chomsky has committed himself to exposing governing ideologies and criticizing his country?s unchecked use of military power. At once thorough and devastating, urgent and provocative, The Myth of American Idealism offers a highly readable entry to the conclusions he has come to after a lifetime of thought and activism.

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Book SynopsisCelebrated for its natural beauty and its abundance of wildlife, the Mekong river runs thousands of miles through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Its basin is home to more than 70 million people and has for centuries been one of the world's richest agricultural areas and a biodynamic wonder. Today, however, it is undergoing profound changes. Development policies, led by a rising China in particular, aim to interconnect the region and urbanize the inhabitants. And a series of dams will harness the river's energy, while also stymieing its natural cycles and cutting off food supplies for swathes of the population. In Last Days of the Mighty Mekong, Brian Eyler travels from the river's headwaters in China to its delta in southern Vietnam to explore its modern evolution. Along the way he meets the region’s diverse peoples, from villagers to community leaders, politicians to policy makers. Through conversations with them he reveals the urgent struggle to save the Mekong and its unique ecosystem.Trade ReviewIn this compelling account, Brian Eyler travels down the river, meeting the rebels trying to save it from destruction. * China Dialogue *The book describes how unsustainable human society’s current relationship is with the Mekong * Council of Foreign Affairs *Brian Eyler … has penned an engaging and open-ended book, with a less elegiac tone than its title might imply. At many points a vividly reported travelogue. * China Dialogue *Eyler offers an unbiased, balanced, and nuanced sitrep of the challenges facing the Mekong ... Last Days of the Mighty Mekong is also full of stimulating facts and figures that grab and hold the reader’s attention. * Diplomat *The Last Days is a timely reminder that one of the world’s most remote and naturally beautiful areas is being trans­formed by industrial and urban development, the scale and pace of which have never been seen before. Eyler makes an erudite appeal for governments to face their past mistakes – including the over-damming of the river – and avert the further “wrecking of the Mekong’s amazing eco-system”. * South China Morning Post *Eyler has written a breathtaking account of a journey down the river, from high up in the Chinese province of Yunnan to the Mekong Delta more than 2,700 miles away [...] His book reads like a travelogue, filled with vivid descriptions of the places he visits and the people he encounters. But it is also a stark warning that the river is heading for irreparable ruin. * Wall Street Journal *A wonderfully illuminating and beautifully written portrait of life along the Mekong, and of the forces transforming the region. Eyler offers the type of insight that can only be gained from years of on-the-ground experience. * Elizabeth Economy, Director for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations *A moving requiem for a complex ecosystem upon which millions depend for their livelihoods. The book is an indictment of the failure to treat the Mekong as a single integrated system or to incorporate the local wisdom of the communities who best understand the river. * Judith Shapiro, author of China’s Environmental Challenges *Readers of this book will respond as I have done to Eyler’s richly evocative prose when he writes of the experiences that may be had travelling on and by the river ... I regret not having met Eyler and becoming aware of his writing only recently. I am envious of his sustained personal association with the river over a decade and a half. * Milton Osborne, Mekong Review *Brian Eyler tells the story of a river veiled in mystique. He sounds a warning about the ominous challenges it now faces: the encroachment of the state, breakneck hydropower development, the threats of climate change, and an increasingly powerful China bent on harnessing the Mekong to power its continued rise. This is the definitive story of the present and possible future of the Mekong, and an elegy for one of Asia’s great rivers. * Sebastian Strangio, author of Hun Sen's Cambodia *The definitive work on Asia's most vital river, this book is more than sound scholarship and wise policy. Brian Eyler shares lyrical and haunting stories, showing how and why the Mighty Mekong must be saved. * Ted Osius, Former US Ambassador to Vietnam (2014–17) *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Yubeng: The Last Shangri-la 2. Damming the Upper Mekong 3. The Erhai Valley 4. The Akha as Modern Zomians 5. The Golden Triangle in Transition 6. Laos as a Contested Space 7. Damming the Lower Mekong 8. Phnom Penh and Boeung Kak Lake 9. The Tonle Sap 10. Whither the Mekong Delta

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Book SynopsisA leading historian’s guide to great-power competition with China and Russia, as told through America’s successes and failures in the Cold WarTrade Review“There is an undeniable ease and fluidity to Mr. Brands’s narrative, and his use of Cold War archives is impressive.”—A. Wess Mitchell, Wall Street Journal"A reminder that strategic patience was crucial to success in the Cold War."—Gideon Rachman, Financial Times“Sometimes to truly understand the future, you must deeply examine the past. Hal Brands brings the profound lessons of the US-Soviet cold war to the unfolding competition with China in The Twilight Struggle.”—Admiral James Stavridis, US Navy (Ret.), 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and author of Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans “Good strategy starts with an understanding of history. And no one has thought harder about the lessons of the past than Hal Brands. If you want to know how America can win today's rivalries with Russia and China, read this book about how it triumphed in another twilight struggle: the Cold War.”— Stephen J. Hadley, national security adviser to President George W. Bush “A masterful account of the Cold War, the perils along the way, and the elements of the U.S.-led western strategy that won that war without ever firing a shot and a superb distillation of the lessons that the always-impressive Brands takes from that struggle as we enter a similar era of renewed great-power rivalries. This is a must-read for those seeking to illuminate the way forward with insights gleaned from the past.”—General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition/US Forces in Afghanistan and former Director of the CIA“This thoughtful, evocative, and captivating book is one of the best you can read to understand how America has won long-term strategic competitions with other great powers in the past, and the hard choices that are likely ahead in the brewing long-term competition with China.”—Robert O. Work, 32nd U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense

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Book SynopsisThe Saudi royal family has survived the events of the Arab Spring intact and unscathed. Any major upheavals were ostensibly averted with the help of oil revenues, while the Kingdom's influential clerics conveniently declared all forms of protest to be against Islam. Saudi dollars bent events to the Kingdom's will in the Arab world--particularly in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, but also in Egypt and Lebanon, Saudi cash has had a profound impact.Does this mean that all is well in Saudi Arabia itself, which has an extremely youthful population ruled by a gerontocracy? Problems endemic in Egypt, Tunisia and Syria--youth unemployment, corruption and repression--are also evident in the Kingdom and while young Saudis may not yet be taking to the streets, on Twitter and Facebook their discontent is manifest.Saudi Arabia remains the dominant player in the Gulf, and the fall of the House of Saud would have explosive repercussions on the GCC while the knock-on effect worldwide would be immeasurable. Saudi Arabia is the only oil exporter capable of acting as a 'swing producer', a fact of which this book reminds us. Aarts and Roelants have drawn a compelling picture of a Middle East power which, while not presently endangered, may soon deviate from the trajectory established by the House of Saud.Trade Review'A lively narrative that conveys a wealth of information in an easily accessible way. Their chapters cover a spectrum of topics including oil, education, the demographic time-bomb ... the "digital explosion" of social media, and the 'two-edged sword of Islam' that permits troublesome clerics to criticise the regime in suitably veiled language.' * Financial Times *'A timely, fascinating, and most importantly multi-faceted insight into the deepening troubles of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Essential reading for those seeking greater knowledge of an otherwise opaque and inscrutable polity.' * Christopher Davidson, author of After the Sheikhs: The Coming Collapse of the Gulf Monarchies *

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

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Book SynopsisIn this story from the frontlines of the undeclared battlefields of the War on Terror, Jeremy Scahill exposes America's new approach to war: fought far from any declared battlefield, by units that do not officially exist, in thousands of operations a month that are never publicly acknowledged. From Afghanistan and Pakistan to Yemen, Somalia and beyond, Scahill speaks to the CIA agents, mercenaries and elite Special Operations Forces operators. He goes deep into al Qaeda-held territory in Yemen and walks the streets of Mogadishu with CIA-backed warlords. We also meet the survivors of night raids and drone strikes - including families of US citizens targeted for assassination by their own government - who reveal the shocking human consequences of the dirty wars the United States struggle to keep hidden.Trade ReviewA campaigning voice like Scahill's is indispensable * London Review of Books *There is no journalist in America who has exposed the truth about US government militarism more bravely, more relentlessly and more valuably than Jeremy Scahill. Dirty Wars is highly gripping and dramatic, and of unparalleled importance in understanding the destruction being sown in our name. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisNow in a completely updated, full-color edition, this leading textbook has been thoroughly revised to reflect the sweeping economic, social, and political changes the past decade has brought to Europe and to incorporate new research and teaching approaches in regional geography. The authors have especially expanded their discussion of climate change and other environmental challenges facing Europe, migration and the rise of right-wing populist movements, and Brexit and other challenges facing the EU. They employ a cultural-historical approach that is ideally suited to facilitate understanding of Europe’s complex geographical character. Their topical organization—including environment, ethnicity, religion, language, demography, politics, industry, and urban and rural life—offers students a holistic understanding of the diverse cultural area that is Europe. Inclusive, rich in ideas, lively, interesting, and humanistic, The European Culture Area remains the text of choice for courses on the geography of Europe.

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Book SynopsisBuilding resilience,the ability to bounce back more quickly and effectively,is an urgent social and economic issue. Our interconnected world is susceptible to sudden and dramatic shocks and stresses: a cyber-attack, a new strain of virus, a structural failure, a violent storm, a civil disturbance, an economic blow. Through an astonishing range of stories, Judith Rodin shows how people, organizations, businesses, communities, and cities have developed resilience in the face of otherwise catastrophic challenges: Medellin, Colombia, was once the drug and murder capital of South America. Now it's host to international conferences and an emerging vacation destination. Tulsa, Oklahoma, cracked the code of rapid urban development in a floodplain. Airbnb, Toyota, Ikea, Coca-Cola, and other companies have realized the value of reducing vulnerabilities and potential threats to customers, employees, and their bottom line. In the Mau Forest of Kenya, bottom-up solutions are critical for dealing with climate change, environmental degradation, and displacement of locals. Following Superstorm Sandy, the Rockaway Surf Club in New York played a vital role in distributing emergency supplies. As we grow more adept at managing disruption and more skilled at resilience-building, Rodin reveals how we are able to create and take advantage of new economic and social opportunities that offer us the capacity to recover after catastrophes and grow strong in times of relative calm.Trade Review"You have to read only one book: The Resilience Dividend by Judith Rodin...The book provides a tour de force of why and how resilience matters in different countries, industries and settings...Rodin's book will prove to be essential reading to leaders across sectors that are addressing the complexity of challenges facing humanity...The Resilience Dividend should be compulsory reading in the social investment community." --Alliance Magazine "An inspiring book about preparing for major disruptions...Using an astonishing array of real-life situations, Rodin illustrates how individuals, organizations, businesses and communities can develop resilience after suffering catastrophic challenges."--The Missourian "An inspiring and optimistic look at what humankind can do to respond to what appear insurmountable challenges"--Library Journal "Rockefeller Foundation president Rodin writes in an expert and straightforward manner about the character trait of resilience, addressed here in socioeconomic terms and on nothing less than a global scale... While every author may hope to end a book with an indelible sentence, Rodin proves herself one of the select few who can pull this off." --Publishers Weekly "Humanity has long celebrated those able to avoid, overcome or bounce back from adversity. And, in an increasingly interdependent and volatile world, resilience has never been more valuable--or seemed in shorter supply. Indeed, as we strive to make progress in our communities, organizations and families, we must seek to understand and build resilience. With her new book, The Resilience Dividend, Judith Rodin provides valuable insights into the growing importance and transformative potential of resilience. Highly recommended for all those seeking to create lasting positive change in the world."-- Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company "The Resilience Dividend delivers powerful proof that building resilience helps individuals, communities and cities better recover from disasters and disruptions. Judith Rodin details connections between human, environmental and economic systems, and offers a strategy to proactively address the threats they face. This very important book will help tackle complex challenges today and well into the future."--Mark R. Tercek, President and CEO, The Nature Conservancy and author of Nature's Fortune: How Business and Nature Thrive by Investing in Nature "This book makes a compelling case, drawing on stories from countries and communities across the world, that resilience is not just a defense mechanism but a positive gain or dividend, with added value in economic and social terms. The message is timely, given the increasingly disruptive force of climate change and the need to encourage communities to respond positively. It is also a highly readable account because it relies on actual human experience."--Mary Robinson, President Mary Robinson Foundation-Climate Justice, UN Special Envoy on Climate Change "From climate change, to economic adjustment, to the breakdown in political governance,the scale and complexity of threats and challenges in today's interconnected world are immense. This timely and insightful book by Judith Rodin, president of The Rockefeller Foundation, reminds us that we urgently need to build greater resilience to enable individuals, businesses, and communities to prepare for both systemic disruptions and new opportunities in the world order."--Kofi A. Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997--2006) and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation "In a world where disruption is a fact of life and uncertainty is guaranteed, Judith Rodin draws on years of experience to offer an inspiring look at how we can prepare for the unexpected-and by doing so makes our communities stronger, more prosperous and more connected in the process."-- President Bill Clinton "Judith Rodin's groundbreaking work at the Rockefeller Foundation is helping cities adapt to a changing climate--and a changing world. In her new book, The Resilience Dividend, she lays out a powerful case for why governments and companies should prepare for-and not just react to--disruptions to business as usual."--Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg LP & Bloomberg Philanthropies, and 108th Mayor of New York City "She is a good story teller, and her stories from the United States and around the world form the heart of the book... Crisis planners will find useful material in 'The Resilience Dividend,' not just a "template for thinking" about crisis management but also, as Ms. Rodin puts it, the 'methods for putting that thinking into practice.' The rest of us will take heart that, in a world of disruption, there are ways to cope with crisis and even, perhaps, grow stronger as a result."--Wall Street Journal "A revealing examination of the anatomy of resilience...[Rodin] clearly shows what went right and what went wrong and what can be learned from past experiences. A convincing argument that becoming resilient is not only possible, but essential; food for thought for all and especially recommended for community leaders." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Rodin...takes an insightful look at what is known as the resilience dividend, opportunities that come out of disasters and make for progress whether or not another occurs." --Booklist "Her book's central argument offers resilience as a reason to adopt policies that allow for mass-scale preparation in the face of certain but unknowable future disasters. And though the book discusses resilience primarily in context of disasters such as devastating storms, Rodin's concept also sees dividends when applied to crises that stem from social stratification and unrest." --The Atlantic's CityLab "Judith Rodin is a world-class entrepreneurial philanthropist. In The Resilience Dividend, she brings her life's work to bear on the subject, drawing on her deep and personal experiences from around the world. She uses every tool available (including the world's most advanced technologies) to understand the urban terrain and to deploy real-world solutions. All with the goal of saving and improving human lives." --Dr. Alex Karp, cofounder and CEO, Palantir "Dr. Rodin's extraordinary leadership has helped introduce the world to the concept of resilience--the critical strategy for breaking the endless cycle of emergency response and relief for millions of people. From supporting our nation's recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to helping megacities in Asia protect their most vulnerable citizens, Dr. Rodin has made resilience a global priority at home and abroad. Rigorously analytical and powerfully argued, Dr. Rodin's book challenges us to work smarter and more collaboratively to predict disasters before they strike and enable citizens to build stronger communities and thriving economies."--Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of USAID "Ms. Rodin, currently president of the Rockefeller Foundation in New York, is especially suited to analyze these disruptive threats and to propose recommendations to upgrade resiliency to redress them... 'The Resilience Dividend' is a must-read for all those concerned about proactively building a tough and rebounding capacity, 'without waiting for disaster to push us into it." --Washington Times "A fresh take on the many ways that organizations can recover and grow from unexpected setbacks... It's intriguing that the author of The Resilience Dividend is the head of a leading philanthropy. In the early 1990s, Peter Drucker made a strong argument that neither government nor the private sector could build the sense of community needed to meet the challenges of what he labeled the Knowledge Society. He thought the 'social sector' was our last, best hope for that. Judith Rodin's thoughtful, organic approach to enhancing the resilience of social groups suggests that Drucker's faith in NGOs might not have been misplaced."--Strategy + Business "Rodin writes in an easy style. Drawing on a number of inspiring stories...she shows how resilience can be achieved through 'readiness, responsiveness and revitalization.' Upbeat and optimistic, this is not a book for cynics. Rodin marshals a strong case that the resilience dividend is 'real and achievable,' and if followed it can make a difference in the lives of millions of people the next time disaster strikes." --Maclean's "Positive, pragmatic, and powerful, Judith Rodin's The Resilience Dividend is precisely the innovative thinking we need. By focusing on the ways individuals, businesses, and communities can build a foundation for resilience, Rodin gives us a blueprint for a future where we are stronger, more adaptable, and better equipped to meet the world's greatest challenges."-- Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief, The Huffington Post Media Group "Embracing and driving change is key to adapting to our customers' needs and is a big part of what enables us to deliver great service. Every company must adapt and change in order to grow and succeed. The Resilience Dividend makes a powerful case for doing business differently in a dynamic and disruptive world." --Tony Hsieh, NY Times best-selling author of Delivering Happiness and CEO of Zappos.com, Inc.

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Book SynopsisThe concepts and theories of what constitutes a 'Middle Power' have played a key part in explaining the identity, behaviour and foreign policy roles of many states in the international system, including the United Kingdom, France, Australia and Brazil. But, with a few exceptions, these frameworks have failed to travel to scholarship on the Middle East, despite the theoretical and empirical potential that they offer for understanding regional dynamics. The first of its kind, this volume addresses that major gap by interrogating the conceptual, theoretical and empirical underpinnings of the concept of 'Middle Power' at a regional level. Composed of nine chapters, 'Unfulfilled Aspirations' offers the conceptual and theoretical tools to examine 'Middle Powerhood' in the Middle East, as well as insightful empirical analyses of both 'traditional' Middle Powers in the region (Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria) and new, aspiring ones (Qatar, the UAE). The contributors reveal that the Middle Powers of the Middle East have failed, despite their best efforts, to fulfill their regional aspirations.Trade Review'The greatest strength of [Unfulfilled Aspirations] is its clear and in-depth conjunction of theory and case-studies. Saouli’s edited volume is a timely study of an important subject for Middle East studies.' -- International Affairs

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Book SynopsisXi Jinping''s China is powerful, aggressive and single-minded and this book will become a must-read for the Western world.China has become the powerhouse of the world economy, its incredible boom overseen by the elite members of the secretive and all-powerful communist party. But since the election of Xi Jinping as General Secretary, life at the top in China has changed. Under the guise of a corruption crackdown, which has seen his rivals imprisoned, Xi Jinping has been quietly building one of the most powerful leaderships modern China has ever seen. In CEO China, the noted China expert Kerry Brown reveals the hidden story of the rise of the man dubbed the ''Chinese Godfather''. Brown investigates his relationship with his revolutionary father, who was expelled by Mao during the Cultural Revolution, his business dealings and allegiances in China''s regional power struggles and his role in the internal battle raging between the old men of the Deng era and the neTrade ReviewCEO China: The Rise of Xi Jinping'. That is the new and excellent book by Kerry Brown. Almost all books on China are either bad or mediocre, but this one is the best book I ever have read on the exercise of power in contemporary China. Every page is good.Definitely recommended, one of my favorite non-fiction books of the year so far. I can readily imagine re-reading it. -- Professor Tyler Cowen, Holbert C. Harris Chair of economics at George Mason UniversityXi Jinping, president of China, is now undoubtedly one of the most powerful men in the world. This is the first biography of Xi in English and provides a lucid and readable account of his background, rise to power and political background. -- Gideon Rachman * Financial Times *Dazzlingly detailed -- Tom Plate, Distinguished Scholar of Asian and Pacific Studies at Loyola Marymount University, Los AngelesOne of our most perceptive and accurate foreign observers of China -- John Simpson, BBC

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ? A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLEBOOK OF THE YEAR?ONE OF THE WASHINGTON POST''s 50 NOTABLE WORKS OF NONFICTIONAn explosive, deeply reported exposé of McKinsey & Company, the international consulting firm that advises corporations and governments, that highlights the often drastic impact of its work on employees and citizens around the worldMcKinsey & Company is the most prestigious consulting company in the world, earning billions of dollars in fees from major corporations and governments who turn to it to maximize their profits and enhance efficiency. In When McKinsey Comes to Town, two prizewinning investigative journalists have written a portrait of the company sharply at odds with its public image. Often McKinsey''s advice boils down to major cost-cutting, including layoffs and maintenance reductions, to drive up short-term profits, thereby boosting a company''s stock price and the wealth of its executives who hire it, at the expense of workers and safety measures. McKinsey collects millions of dollars advising government agencies that also regulate McKinsey''s corporate clients.Shielded by NDAs, McKinsey has escaped public scrutiny despite its role in advising tobacco and vaping companies, purveyors of opioids, repressive governments, and oil companies. McKinsey helped insurance companies'' boost their profits by making it incredibly difficult for accident victims to get payments; worked its U.S. government contacts to let Wall Street firms evade scrutiny. And much more. When McKinsey Comes to Town is a landmark work of investigative reporting that amounts to a devastating portrait of a firm whose work has often made the world more unequal, more corrupt, and more dangerous.

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Book SynopsisThe conflict in Ukraine has deep domestic roots. A third of the population, primarily in the East and South, regards its own Russian cultural identity as entirely compatible with a Ukrainian civic identity. The state’s reluctance to recognize this ethnos as a legitimate part of the modern Ukrainian nation, has created a tragic cycle that entangles Ukrainian politics. The Tragedy of Ukraine argues that in order to untangle the conflict within the Ukraine, it must be addressed on an emotional, as well as institutional level. It draws on Richard Ned Lebow’s ‘tragic vision of politics’ and on classical Greek tragedy to assist in understanding the persistence of this conflict. Classical Greek tragedy once served as a mechanism in Athenian society to heal deep social trauma and create more just institutions. The Tragedy of Ukraine reflects on the ways in which ancient Greek tragedy can help us rethink civic conflict and polarization, as well as model ways of healing deep social divisions. Table of Contents

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