Geopolitics Books

Book SynopsisA bold call for the American Left to extend their politics to the issues of Israel-Palestine In this major work of daring criticism and analysis, scholar and political commentator Marc Lamont Hill and Israel-Palestine expert Mitchell Plitnick spotlight how one-sided pro-Israel policies reflect the truth-bending grip of authoritarianism on both Israel and the United States. Except for Palestine argues that progressives and liberals who oppose regressive policies on immigration, racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and other issues must extend these core principles to the oppression of Palestinians. In doing so, the authors take seriously the political concerns and well-being of both Israelis and Palestinians, demonstrating the extent to which U.S. policy has made peace harder to attain. They also unravel the conflation of advocacy for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel. Hill and Plitnick provide a timely and essential intervention by examining multiple dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conversation, including Israel’s growing disdain for democracy, the effects of occupation on Palestine, the siege of Gaza, diminishing American funding for Palestinian relief, and the campaign to stigmatize any critique of Israeli occupation. Except for Palestine is a searing polemic and a cri de coeur for elected officials, activists, and everyday citizens alike to align their beliefs and politics with their values.Trade ReviewPraise for Except for Palestine:Winner of the Palestine Book Awards” Counter Current Award“A remarkable little book. . . . Except for Palestine should be read by anyone interested in events in Israel/Palestine—and obviously in particular, anyone claiming to be progressive and liberal.”—Palestine Chronicle “[A] principled cri de coeur to progressives everywhere. . . . Except for Palestine is a crucial and ultimately hopeful tool that better equips progressives to combat injustices within their own political circles.”—Mondoweiss“For too long, many have championed the rights and liberties of oppressed peoples here and abroad, but remained silent on Palestinian freedom, or even worse, supported U.S. policies that render Palestinian humanity and suffering invisible. This clear and courageous book is a clarion call for moral integrity and political consistency.”—Cornel West, Union Theological Seminary“Hill and Plitnick deliver a thoughtful and incisive analysis of how progressive commitments to racial and social justice are undermined by the ‘Palestinian exception.’ Building the civil rights movement for the twenty-first century in America requires an international intersectionality that necessarily includes advocating for the rights and dignity of Palestinians and Israelis alike. Except for Palestine is timely and vital.”—Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Michigan’s 13th Congressional District“Except for Palestine calls on progressives to apply the same principles to Israel-Palestine that they apply to the U.S. It’s a simple, radical, and deeply important argument, which anyone who cherishes justice should not ignore.”—Peter Beinart, author of The Crisis of Zionism “Hill and Plitnick have produced a timely and powerful indictment of decades of U.S. policy exceptionalizing Israel at the expense of progressive values. Their thorough examination of American progressives’ intellectual and moral hypocrisy when it comes to defending Palestinians’ human rights, civil rights, and right to challenge Israeli occupation is a valuable resource.”—Lara Friedman, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace“This book explores some of the most fundamental contradictions confronting liberal spaces in the U.S. and makes a powerful case for the progressive core values of humanity, justice, and dignity to finally include the Palestinian people.”—Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights“Except for Palestine cogently explores the reasons for the silence of so many progressives and liberals when it comes to the unceasing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people. Hill and Plitnick dismantle one by one the arguments used to justify this shameful silence, and in doing so provide an eloquent, balanced, and hard-hitting analysis of why ending an egregious exception to accepted norms of justice and equality is so imperative.”—Rashid Khalidi, author of Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East“A timely and compelling treatise on the moral failings of U.S. policy and American politics in relation to Israel/Palestine.”—Khaled Elgindy, Responsible Statecraft “An accessible, in-depth analysis that takes U.S. politics to task for normalising both Israel’s colonial violence and, as a result, the oppression of the Palestinian people.”—Middle East Monitor

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Book SynopsisIn The Origins of Political Order, Francis Fukuyama took us from the dawn of mankind to the French and American Revolutions. Here, he picks up the thread again in the second instalment of his definitive account of mankind's emergence as a political animal. This is the story of how state, law and democracy developed after these cataclysmic events, how the modern landscape - with its uneasy tension between dictatorships and liberal democracies - evolved and how in the United States and in other developed democracies, unmistakable signs of decay have emerged. If we want to understand the political systems that dominate and order our lives, we must first address their origins - in our own recent past as well as in the earliest systems of human government. Fukuyama argues that the key to successful government can be reduced to three key elements: a strong state, the rule of law and institutions of democratic accountability. This magisterial account is required reading for anyone wishing to know more about mankind's greatest achievements.Trade ReviewThe best account I have read of how we reached this point ... a wealth of insights worthy of the greatest writers about democracy -- David Runciman * FT *A basic rule of intellectual life is that celebrity destroys quality ... Francis Fukuyama is a glorious exception to this rule * The Economist *To his credit, Francis Fukuyama extracts no catchy global lessons from this story of political decay ... so often unjustly accused of cold-war triumphalism, [he] is giving us a wake-up call * Irish Times *Fukuyama writes about the degeneration of America's political system with the passion and frustration of a prophet straining to be heard over a cacophony of partisanship and ideological dogma. It is to be hoped that he will make himself heard: this excellent volume of comparative history and political science should be read by politicians and public alike -- Tim Bouverie * The Spectator *The ground covered is astonishing... Read these wonderful books so that you can never again say that we haven't been warned. And read them, too, for the way they make uncertainty seem not just tolerable but the only sane way to look at the world -- Nick Fraser * Observer *

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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 SynopsisCo-authored by two leading voices in the struggle to liberate Palestine, a clear-sighted and essential analysis of the political context around this region at a desperate impasseFrom the targeting of schools and hospitals, to the indiscriminate use of white phosphorus, Israel''s conduct in ''Operation Cast Lead'' has rattled even some of its most strident supporters. In Gaza in Crisis, Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé survey the fallout from that devastation, and place the massacre in Gaza in the context of Israel''s long-standing war against the Palestinians. It is a rigorous, historically informed and much-needed analysis of the situation and will be welcomed by all those eager for Chomsky''s and Pappé''s insights into yet another political catastrophe. ''Noam Chomsky is a global phenomenon . . . he may be the most widely read American voice on foreign policy on the planet today'' The New York Times Book Review ''Ilan Pappé is Israel''s bravest, most principled, most incisive historian'' John PilgerTrade ReviewA wonderfully accessible primer * Independent *This sober and unflinching analysis should be read and reckoned with by anyone concerned with practicable change in the long-suffering region * Publishers Weekly *Chomsky has an authority granted by brilliance * Sunday Times *Noam Chomsky is a global phenomenon . . . he may be the most widely read American voice on foreign policy on the planet today * The New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisGlobalization is dead. Nation states are resurgent, international trade has enriched the few rather than the promised many, and democratic values are on the retreat. The shining-eyed optimism of more open, more equal societies has given way to demagoguery and nationalism. As the problems of immigration, extremism and the economy cause the world's nations to rethink their relationships, John Ralston Saul's brilliantly insightful The Collapse of Globalism lights the way to where we go from here.Trade ReviewInformative, engaging and, above all, bitingly critical... An eminently readable book. -- Martin Jacques * Guardian *This is the start of a new debate. -- Michael Maiello * Forbes *Saul's arguments make original reading. * James Harkin for the Independent *Elegantly written and deeply important... Saul has provided a vital analysis of why globalization was never inevitable and always destined to fail, and what will come in its place. -- Sebastian Bosher * Ecologist *Saul brings a great breadth of literary and cultural knowledge to his task... and there is much evidence to support Saul's contention that things are going badly wrong with our planet. -- Paul Kennedy * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisNorth Korea is like no other tyranny on earth. It is Orwell's 1984 made reality.The regime controls the flow of information to its citizens, pouring relentless propaganda through omnipresent loud speakers. Free speech is an illusion: one word out of line and the gulag awaits. State spies are everywhere, ready to punish disloyalty and the slightest sign of discontent.You must bow to Kim Il Sung, the Eternal Leader and to his son, Generalissimo Kim Jong Il. Worship the dead and then hail the living, the Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.North Koreans are told their home is the greatest nation on earth. Big Brother is always watching.Posing as a university professor, award-winning BBC journalist John Sweeney travelled undercover to gain unprecedented access to the world's most secret state. Drawing on his own experiences and his extensive interviews with defectors and other key witnesses, North Korea Undercover pulls back the Trade ReviewSweeney's book is a spark in the dark of North Korea. * The Times *The recent UN report on North Korea under-lined the importance of Sweeney's book. There is much to learn from North Korea Undercover. * Literary Review *Harrowing... creepy and poignant; and, in turn, tragic and obscene. North Korea Undercover asserts that the West should be more concerned about labour camps than nuclear weapons. -- Tom Farrell * Sunday Business Post *Explosive and entertaining... Sweeney provides a remarkably vivid look at this hidden country. An investigative must-read. * Booklist *A tremendous piece of reporting. This book is one that we should all read and absorb. * Army Rumour Service *

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Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERNEW YORK TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERWith extraordinary access to the Trump White House, Michael Wolff tells the inside story of the most controversial presidency of our time.The first nine months of Donald Trump''s term were stormy, outrageous - and absolutely mesmerising. Now, thanks to his deep access to the West Wing, bestselling author Michael Wolff tells the riveting story of how Trump launched a tenure as volatile and fiery as the man himself.In this explosive book, Wolff provides a wealth of new details about the chaos in the Oval Office. Among the revelations: - What President Trump''s staff really thinks of him- What inspired Trump to claim he was wire-tapped by President Obama - Why FBI director James Comey was really fired- Why chief strategist Steve Bannon and Trump''s son-in-law Jared Kushner couldn''t be in the same room - Who is really directing the Trump administration''s strategy in the wake of Bannon''s firing- What the secret to communicating with Trump is- What the Trump administration has in common with the movie The ProducersNever before has a presidency so divided the American people. Brilliantly reported and astoundingly fresh, Michael Wolff''s Fire and Fury shows us how and why Donald Trump has become the king of discord and disunion.Trade ReviewMichael Wolff has written a book to shake America to its foundations * Guardian *It is ferociously well-written and pitilessly focused - and it is destined to become the primary account of the first nine months of the Trump presidency * Evening Standard *[A] brilliant book . . . that promises to do for the Trump presidency what Andrew Morton's 1992 biography of Princess Diana did for the Royal Family -- Dominic Midgley * Daily Express *It's difficult to recall the last time any publication has had as big an impact on the news cycle as Fire and Fury, journalist Michael Wolff account of a year inside the Trump White House. It is horrifying, hilarious and hugely readable -- Tim Walker * Independent i *[A] devastating expose of the Trump White House . . . it brings it all together in one riveting narrative, with the truth coming directly sourced from the president's own mortified advisers. The emperor's clothes were falling down but now they have vanished -- Andrew Sullivan * Sunday Times *An unforgettable revelation of the monstrous oddity that is Trump. No one has so vividly captured this "enigma, cipher, disruptor", who didn't want to be president and was horrified to find himself landed with the job. Whatever may become of Trump, this is a book that will endure as a picture of one of the defining figures of our age -- John Gray * New Statesman *Scathing, hilarious, terrifying and (in an odd way) comforting -- Joyce Carol OatesThe wildest of wild rides, this remains the quintessential book on the Trump presidency. It is hugely enjoyable * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'Gripping' Economist 'Jaw-dropping' Sunday Times 'Riveting' Financial Times 'Fascinating' ReutersWe are entering an age of energy crises and food shortages. This book reveals why.Meet the swashbuckling traders who supply the world with energy, food and metal.Their goal: To make billions by buying and selling raw materials - flogging Russian gas to Europe, Saudi oil to America and Congolese metals to Silicon Valley.Their methods: Whatever it takes - whether funnelling cash to Vladimir Putin's sanction-stricken Kremlin, schmoozing Russian metal oligarchs after the collapse of the Soviet Union, or striking deals with the Libyan rebels at the height of the Arab Spring.These are the commodity traders. You've probably never heard of them. But, like it or not, you're one of their customers.*Financial Times and Economist Book of the Year**Shortlisted for the Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award* 'Shows how much money and global influence is concentrated in the hands of a tiny group . . . Remarkable . . . As the authors roam from oilfield to wheatfield, they reveal information so staggering you almost gasp' Sunday Times 'A globe-spanning corporate thriller, full of intrigue and double dealing . . . Changes how we see the world, often in horrifying ways' Spectator 'A rich archive of ripping yarns . . . The high level narrative is gripping enough. But it is the details of what these freewheeling companies actually got up to that give the book a thriller-like quality' Financial Times 'Some of the stories could be straight out of John le Carré. The difference is they're true' Andrew NeilTrade ReviewThis jaw-dropping study shows how much money and global influence is concentrated in the hands of a tiny group . . . A remarkable book . . . As the authors roam from oilfield to wheatfield, they reveal information so staggering you almost gasp . . . The colour is fantastic . . . Tracking down some of the biggest names in the business to their German castles and stud farms and persuading them to talk is a rare scoop. * Sunday Times *A fascinating and revealing story . . . There are tales in the book of breathtaking trades, such as shipments of rebel oil from war-torn Libya or deals bartered amid the brutal "aluminium wars" in the Russia of the 1990s . . . A gripping book. * Economist *Javier Blas and Jack Farchy probe the hard-knuckle and secretive world of commodity trading. -- What to Read in 2021 * Financial Times *A globe-spanning corporate thriller, full of intrigue and double dealing . . . Changes how we see the world, often in horrifying ways . . . The book weaves together years of reporting experience in the field with access to many of the key figures in an industry dominated by huge characters . . . New insights and reporting mean that even seasoned observers will be amazed. -- James Ball * Spectator *Anecdotally rich . . . A highly readable study in world economics and a valuable primer for would-be oil barons. * Kirkus *Blas and Farchy compellingly lay out how a handful of secretive traders have had a hand in directing not only the world's commodities, but also its politics and history. The World for Sale draws back the covers on a sector where civil wars, dubious regimes and the collapse of states have often been just another business opportunity - and what that has meant for the rest of us. Intriguing and, at times, alarming. -- Helen Thomas, Business Editor, BBC NewsnightA colorful and alarming exposé of the shadowy world of global commodity trading . . . Hair-raising anecdotes . . . An engrossing look at an obscure yet consequential corner of the financial world. * Publishers Weekly *A virtuoso depiction of the globe's top oil, food and metals traders . . . Javier Blas and Jack Farchy should be awaiting the call from Hollywood. The World for Sale contains at least half a dozen narrative threads that would form the basis of a good thriller. But the authors' main achievement is to subject the biggest commodity players, and their impact on the real world, to proper critical scrutiny . . . The depth of the reporting by the Bloomberg journalists, who previously worked for the Financial Times, is impressive . . . Fascinating. * Reuters *Some of the stories beggar belief . . . A fascinating story, it's just incredible some of the routes that the money takes. -- Lawrence Pollard * BBC Newsday *Could there be a better moment for Javier Blas and Jack Farchy's rollicking new account of those markets' recent history to land on investors' desks? . . . A rich archive of ripping yarns . . . . . . The high level narrative is gripping enough. But it is the details of what these freewheeling companies actually got up to that give the book a thriller-like quality . . . Educational and entertaining. * Financial Times *If you have the slightest interest in how the modern world was made, by whom, at what price, and at what profit, this is the book for you . . . Superbly researched and tidily written . . . A clean, compelling chronicle of the central role that commodity traders have played in the global economy from the end of World War II to the present. What they found isn't pretty - but it's plenty illuminating. * Foreign Policy *Some of the stories could be straight out of John Le Carré. The difference is they're true . . . A fascinating tale . . . A great read about very important topics. It's well worth your time. -- Andrew NeilA fantastic book about the world of commodity trading. -- Stephanie Flanders * Bloomberg Stephanomics *A fascinating, sometimes hair-raising new book . . . A book which on the one hand tells us some really important things about the nature of money, power and the nature of the modern economy, but on the other is just full of some of the most fascinating stories. -- Matthew Taylor * RSA Bridges to the Future *The captivating stories of the powerful commodity traders and mystery actors of markets and geopolitics -- Roula Khalaf, FT Editor-in-Chief - Summer Books 2021 * Financial Times *The blistering tale of a clutch of hard-charging international commodity trading houses such as Cargill and Glencore. The authors, both former FT journalists, trace how they harnessed the commodity boom and the setbacks they now face as climate change casts a shadow over their business model. -- Andrew Hill, FT & McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award Longlist * Financial Times *A very impressive profile of an industry that has long preferred to avoid the spotlight . . . The authors deftly weave stories of the individual traders and their trades with an account of the major shifts in the global economy of the past 70 years . . . Extensively researched and well written throughout . . . I would not hesitate to recommend this book. -- International AffairsA thriller . . . An engaging story of secret deals and embargo-evasion. * Forbes *An entertaining history of the rise of the international trading houses and the charismatic, freewheeling risk-takers who headed them. -- Books of the Year * Financial Times *The story of how a few commodity-trading firms quietly reconfigured the world economy, making fortunes, juggling embargoes and swaying geopolitics. -- Books of the Year * Economist *

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Book SynopsisGetting to grips with the overlapping geopolitical, economic, and political crises faced by Western democratic societies in the 2020s. The 21st century has brought a powerful tide of geopolitical, economic, and democratic shocks. Their fallout has led central banks to create over $25 trillion of new money, brought about a new age of geopolitical competition, destabilised the Middle East, ruptured the European Union, and exposed old political fault lines in the United States.Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century is a long history of this present political moment. It recounts three histories - one about geopolitics, one about the world economy, and one about western democracies - and explains how in the years of political disorder prior to the pandemic the disruption in each became one big story. It shows how much of this turbulence originated in problems generated by fossil-fuel energies, and it explains why as the green transition takes place the long-standing predicaments energy inTrade ReviewBrilliant * Steven Poole, The Guardian *majestic * Neal Lawson, The Observer *Thompson's analysis of the West is complete, compact and an indispensable reference for International Relations scholars and those with an interest in the political tensions of the modern system. The book offers a unique detailed review of the current circumstances rather than a prescriptive text. Thompson's work exhibits the best traditions of British academic historical inquiry: observation without doctrinal attachments, description without meandering thematic focus and a dry warning of dire consequences. * Shane McLorrain, American University of Paris, France, International Affairs *The best eight politics books of the year - "Helen Thompson expertly joins the dots between debt, energy prices, inflation and political instability." * Eoin O'Malley *Startlingly Relevant * Michael Laver, Society *Helen Thompson's book stands tallest among the recent titles that attempt to make sense of our age of crises. Disorder is a singular work owing to the skill with which Thompson maps the intersecting relationships between energy, global monetary policy, and the state of liberal democracy. * New Statesman *Excellent * Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Mail *Fascinating * Simon Nixon, The Times *A stimulating read. * Howard Davies, Literary Review *Exceptional * Gavin Jacobson, New Statesman *Excellent. * Peter Franklin, Unherd *Bold and brilliant, studded with insights...one of the year's most essential books. * Christopher Bray, The Tablet *A powerful guide to modern Hard Times...any reader will finish it with a deeper understanding of our contemporary challenges. * Paschal Donohoe, Irish Times *Most of us struggle to keep up [with the news], but not Helen Thompson - she doesn't merely grip each strand, but ties them together. * Tom Clark, Prospect *Bursting with ideas. * James Barr, The Critic *[Disorder is] as disturbing as it is thought-provoking. * Martin Wolf, Financial Times, Summer Books 2022: Economics *If you are looking for a well-developed and convincing theory of our time, I advise you to start here. * Gilles Gressani, Le Grand Continent, 'What to read this summer' *Stimulating * Luuk van Middelaar, NRC Handelsblad *We are on the verge of a fascinating epoch that Thompson might write about in a second volume, but that doesnt invalidate her first. Instead, it underscores her larger point that energy and finance are often at the heart of geopolitics. * Tony Yates,Chatham House *Disorder is a brilliant extended essay on the troubles of the era in terms of energy, global finance, governance and democracy...So much of this tortuously fascinating book gives the background to the global crisis now upon us, specifically in energy and governance. * Robert Fox, Reaction *If you want to understand why Russia invaded Ukraine then this book will help. * Richard Lofthouse, QUAD *Readers will understand the world better once they have finished reading Disorder. * Michael Laver, Society *Deftly weaving together the history of energy, economics, and politics, Disorder restores depth to contemporary history. Refusing familiar stereotypes, Thompson offers a truly eye-opening account of our current predicament and points the way to a deeper understanding of the energy transition that lies ahead. Challenging and essential reading. * Adam Tooze, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History, Director of the European Institute, Columbia University *A remarkable history of the complex ways in which the global energy economy has shaped the wealth and politics of nations. Helen Thompson's command of her subject is second to none. Disorder is revelatory, sobering, and indispensable. * Gary Gerstle, author of The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order: America and the World during the Free Market Era *To read Thompson on the history of the past century is to see it in a sudden sharp definition. It is akin to looking through glass after the window-cleaner has been. * Tom Holland, bestselling author and co-host of The Rest is History podcast *There could be no better guide than Helen Thompson to the turbulence of the 21st century, with its successive disruptions, from financial crisis to energy transition, from Brexit to emerging geopolitical conflicts. When history seems to have come for us with a vengeance since the turn of the millennium, this magisterial book brings into focus the key structural forces driving, not only recent events, but also the inevitable changes still to come. * Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy, University of Cambridge *In this absorbing and wide-ranging study Helen Thompson unravels the complex intersections of oil, money, and democracy for understanding the politics of the last century. She provides an indispensable and illuminating guide to our current predicaments. * Andrew Gamble, Professor of Politics, University of Sheffield *Thompson's conceptual work is...elaborate...full of revelations. * Thomas König, Austrian Journal of Political Science *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Disruption I: Geopolitics 1: Eurasian limits 2: The impossible oil guarantee 3: Eurasia remade II: Economy 4: Our currencies, your problem 5: Made in China, need dollars 6: We are not in Kansas any more III: Democratic politics 7: Democratic time 8: The democratic tax state 9: Whither reform Conclusions: The more things change Index

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Book Synopsis‘Heavily sourced, crisply written and deeply alarming.’ The Times ‘This is a remarkable book with a chilling message.’ Guardian The Chinese Communist Party is determined to reshape the world in its image. Its decades-long infiltration of the West threatens democracy, human rights, privacy, security and free speech. Throughout North America and Europe, political and business elites, Wall Street, Hollywood, think tanks, universities and the Chinese diaspora are being manipulated with money, pressure and privilege. Hidden Hand reveals the myriad ways the CCP is fulfilling its dream of undermining liberal values and controlling the world.Trade Review‘A remarkable book with a chilling message… The book’s convincing message is plain… Everyone must stay on their guard.’ -- Will Hutton, Guardian‘Revelatory… A detailed and necessary examination.’ * Sunday Times *‘Hidden Hand is heavily sourced, crisply written and deeply alarming.’ * The Times *'Hidden Hand should be required reading for our diplomats, intelligence analysts, military officers and businesspeople.' * The Australian *'An in-depth explanation of how China conducts its operations to gain important knowledge – ranging from tech secrets to financial information.' * International Business Times *'It takes courage to prod somnolent liberal democracies out of their complacent and dangerous incomprehension of the CCP. We are in Hamilton’s and Ohlberg’s debt.' -- Journal of Democracy'[Hidden Hand] should be required reading for anyone working in government and policy, the private sector, or media — really, for anyone with a stake in resisting the shadowy machinations of a totalitarian regime that seeks to exert its will on free societies.' * National Review *

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Book SynopsisThe American war in Vietnam was concluded in 1973 under the terms of a truce that were effectively identical to what was offered to the Nixon administration four years earlier. Those four years cost America billions of dollars and over 35,000 war deaths and casualties, and resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 Vietnamese. And those years were the direct result of the supposed master plan of the most important voice in the Nixon White House on American foreign policy: Henry Kissinger.Using newly available archival material from the Nixon Presidential Library and Kissinger's personal papers, Robert K. Brigham shows how Kissinger's approach to Vietnam was driven by personal political rivalries and strategic confusion, while domestic politics played an outsized influence on Kissinger's so-called strategy. There was no great master plan or Bismarckian theory that supported how the US continued the war or conducted peace negotiations. As a result, a distant tragedy was perpetuated, forever changing both countries. Now, perhaps for the first time, we can see the full scale of that tragedy and the machinations that fed it.

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Book SynopsisMost politicians write autobiographies to ''set the record straight''. This is a different sort of memoir. Following his life as a self-confessed ''wet European'' from parliament to Hong Kong and beyond, Chris Patten creates a meditation on personal and political identity which, in an age of simplification, shows the complexities of both.''A defence of liberal conservatism ... If old-style centrism is to stage a comeback and reason to supplant stridency and authoritarianism, be it in west or east, the moderates can wave Patten''s book on their way to their barricades'' Jonathan Fenby, Financial Times''Vivid, very well-written, First Confession joins the highest tier of recent works by British politicians'' Paschal Donohoe, Irish Times''Draws on his experience of four controversial institutions - the Tory party, the Vatican, the Chinese government and the BBC - to swell the tiny list of intelligent and cultured memoirs by front-line politiTrade ReviewDraws on his experience of four controversial institutions - the Tory party, the Vatican, the Chinese government and the BBC - to swell the tiny list of intelligent and cultured memoirs by front-line politicians -- Mark Lawson * New Statesman, Books of the Year *A defence of liberal conservatism ... If old-style centrism is to stage a comeback and reason to supplant stridency and authoritarianism, be it in west or east, the moderates can wave Patten's book on their way to their barricades -- Jonathan Fenby * Financial Times *Engagingly frank, beefily pugnacious ... ... he writes stirringly -- John Preston * Sunday Telegraph *Vivid, very well-written, First Confession joins the highest tier of recent works by British politicians -- Paschal Donohoe * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to the world’s most contested region.The Indo-Pacific is both a place and an idea. It is the region central to global prosperity and security. It is also a metaphor for collective action. If diplomacy fails, it will be the theatre of the first general war since 1945. But if its future can be secured, the Indo-Pacific will flourish as a shared space, the centre of gravity in a connected world.What we call different parts of the world – Asia, Europe, the Middle East – seems innocuous. But the name of a region is totemic, guiding the decisions of leaders and the story of international order, war and peace. In recent years, the label ‘Indo-Pacific’ has suddenly gained wide use. But what does it really mean?Written by a globally-renowned expert, Indo-Pacific Empire is the definitive guide to tensions in the region. It deftly weaves together history, geopolitics, cartography, military strategy, economics, games and propaganda to address a vital question: how can China’s dominance be prevented without war?Trade Review'Rory Medcalf helped define the Indo-Pacific region as an arena of intense strategic activity, with geopolitical rivalries and clashes of values among the great powers, while small countries seek to assert their identities and independence. This is an essential analysis of how these tensions might play out in the future and the challenges they pose to policy-makers.'Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London ‘The Indo-Pacific is an idea whose time has come. Rory Medcalf has been crucial to both defining and promoting the idea of an Indo-Pacific region – and has now written a fast-paced and fascinating guide to this vital strategic concept.’ Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times and author of Easternisation and Zero-Sum Future ‘Rory Medcalf gives us a fast-paced ride around the world’s newest, and most important, strategic arena. He has done more than anyone to introduce the world to the idea of the Indo-Pacific and this book is a convincing manifesto for a new vision of connectedness. This is the world with all the difficult bits left in.’ Bill Hayton, author of The South China Sea: The Struggle for Power in Asia, and Associate Fellow, Chatham House ‘The complexities of our region can easily bewilder those used to the Manichaean simplicity of the Cold War. Rory Medcalf’s book is an elegant, and keenly insightful, tour of the Indo Pacific’s strategic horizon.’ Malcolm Turnbull, former Prime Minister of Australia ‘Tightly organised and appealingly written, this is a superb primer on this potential economic juggernaut. A must-read.’ James R. Clapper, former US Director of National Intelligence ‘For the many nations finding their way around an unpredictable America and an assertive China, this book offers new choices from an ancient map. It holds ideas with power.’ Peter Hartcher, political and international editor of The Sydney Morning Herald ‘Rory Medcalf was among the first few to see the unfolding integration of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and unpack its strategic significance amidst the widespread scepticism that greeted the concept. This book offers deep insights into the origin of the idea, deconstructs the power dynamics shaping the region and delineates potential pathways to limit the conflict. A rich and rewarding read for anyone interested in a region that promises to define the geopolitics of the twenty-first century.’ C. Raja Mohan, Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore ‘Rory Medcalf helped to pioneer the concept that Asia’s emerging geopolitical order would best be understood as a fusing of the Indian and Pacific Oceans into a new Indo-Pacific framework. With this book, he explains the rich tapestry of emerging regional dynamics and the evolution of a geopolitical concept that has been embraced by maritime Japan, India, Australia and the United States but contested by continental China. Medcalf makes a compelling case that the competition to define “Asia” is about more than just a name – it is about ideas, alignment and power. Medcalf’s book is essential reading for any scholar or practitioner seeking to understand the geopolitics of a region that will define all our futures.’ Michael J. Green, Center for Strategic and International Studies and Georgetown University ‘A tour de force of twenty-first-century geopolitical analysis that should be read by strategists and statesmen throughout the region and the world’ Asian Review of Books 'This engaging mental map of the Indo-Pacific and its regional origins is a rare security studies book that treats economics and ideational elements as integral to the challenge China poses for front-line states like Australia. All of us struggling to understand great power competition need to become ambidextrous if we are to develop policies to cope with a rising – or collapsing – China, and learning from Rory Medcalf’s book is a great place to start.’ Kori Schake, Deputy Director-General, International Institute for Strategic Studies ‘How does the world balance China’s emergence as a global superpower? What are the risks ahead? How do nation states dilute China’s hegemony and avoid capitulation to its interests? These and other pressing questions are examined in Rory Medcalf’s elegant and absorbing book. … A nuanced and subtle assessment of emerging power struggles in the region, with a strong focus on China. Optimistic, yet realistic about the possibilities of war and conflict, this is an essential guide for anyone – politician, policy specialist or informed citizen – interested in the future of the region.’ Books + Publishing ‘Elegant and absorbing … Optimistic, yet realistic about the possibilities of war and conflict, this is an essential guide.’ Bookseller & Publisher ‘A vital contribution to this important ongoing discussion.’ Penny Wong, Senator for South Australia ‘A letter to the Indo-Pacific that is fundamentally optimistic about the role that Australia can play … A deeply insightful and timely contribution.’ Marise Payne, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs ‘Medcalf is an intellectual who writes like a journalist … He is a thinker who has helped redefine Australia’s region and the scope of that region.’ Graeme Dobell, The Strategist ‘Timely and elegantly written. … Medcalf argues – and argues well – that China is helping merely to revive political and economic interactions, as well as a sense of place, that existed for many centuries before both the dissolution of the European empires in Asia and the politics of postcolonial nationalism broke many of those bonds. … Medcalf provides an astute and clear-eyed assessment.’ Ian Hall, Asian Studies Review 'Medcalf’s account is particularly valuable to the diplomats and security professionals engaged in executing the US National Defense Strategy, particularly those engaging with partners and allies. Beyond its engaging history and well-crafted narrative, Indo-Pacific Empire’s invaluable contribution is in holding up a mirror to the United States, helping an American reader to better understand how our actions appear in the eyes of our mates. In a contest between two superpowers, the ability to understand the positions and goals of our middle-power allies is vital. Though the argument for building confidence may be fading as the divide between China and the United States deepens, Indo-Pacific Empire deserves a place on military reading lists across the joint force.' The Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs 'Medcalf has written the best book on the region…offering indispensable basics on the relevant geography, history, economics, strategy and national interests. First, Medcalf demonstrates that Indo-Pacific, a term in growing use since 2000, is an old yet valid construct, far superior to the usual "East Asia" or "Asia Pacific." The Chinese and Japanese economies both would stall without traversing the Indian Ocean. He adopts a realist view of China's economic and military – especially naval – expansionism: they will not be talked out of it. Beijing may lack a single master plan but shifts among commercial, strategic, and political tools to expand its influence. Through its Belt and Road Initiative, China loans massively to develop ports across the region. When debts cannot be repaid, the ports become de facto Chinese naval bases.' CHOICE -- .Table of ContentsPreface1 Of Names, Maps and PowerPAST2 A Submerged History of Asia3 Odyssey of Nations: The Quest for a Regional Home4 Rise of the Indo-PacificPRESENT5 Games and Giants6 Many Players7 Across the Waterfront8 Far-Flung Battle LinesFUTURE9 Navigating Mistrust

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Book SynopsisIn 1965, the U.S. government helped the Indonesian military kill approximately one million innocent civilians. This was one of the most important turning points of the twentieth century, eliminating the largest communist party outside China and the Soviet Union and inspiring copycat terror programs in faraway countries like Brazil and Chile. But these events remain widely overlooked, precisely because the CIA's secret interventions were so successful.In this bold and comprehensive new history, Vincent Bevins builds on his incisive reporting for the Washington Post, using recently declassified documents, archival research and eye-witness testimony collected across twelve countries to reveal a shocking legacy that spans the globe. For decades, it's been believed that parts of the developing world passed peacefully into the U.S.-led capitalist system. The Jakarta Method demonstrates that the brutal extermination of unarmed leftists was a fundamental part of Washington's final triumph in the Cold War.

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Book Synopsis**A SUNDAY TIMES MUST-READ**''Riveting and vitally important'' - Steven Pinker''A gripping narrative of a world on the cusp of profound change'' - Anjana Ahuja, New StatesmanEmpty Planet offers a radical, provocative argument that the global population will soon begin to decline, dramatically reshaping the social, political and economic landscape.For half a century, statisticians, pundits and politicians have warned that a burgeoning planetary population will soon overwhelm the earth''s resources. But a growing number of experts are sounding a different kind of alarm. Rather than growing exponentially, they argue, the global population is headed for a steep decline. Throughout history, depopulation was the product of catastrophe: ice ages, plagues, the collapse of civilizations. This time, however, we''re thinning ourselves deliberately, by choosing to have fewer babies than we need to replace ourseTrade ReviewA fascinating study -- David Goodhart * Sunday Times *A bold thesis, but the authors are convincing . . . this briskly readable book demands urgent attention -- Sarah Ditum * Mail on Sunday *The "everything you know is wrong" genre has become tedious, but this book is riveting and vitally important. With eye-opening data and lively writing, Bricker and Ibbitson show that the world is radically changing in a way that few people appreciate -- Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of The Better Angels of Our Nature and Enlightenment Now[Bricker and Ibbitson] have written a sparkling and enlightening guide to the contemporary world of fertility as small family sizes and plunging rates of child-bearing go global. -- Paul Morland * Globe and Mail *Bricker and Ibbitson work their way around the globe in pacey, sometimes breathless journalistic prose, although their argument is refreshingly clear and well balanced . . . -- Robert Mayhew * Literary Review *The authors combine a mastery of social-science research with enough journalistic flair to convince fair-minded readers of a simple fact: fertility is falling faster than most experts can readily explain, driven by persistent forces . . . Empty Planet succeeds as a long-overdue skewering of population-explosion fearmongers -- Lyman Stone * Wall Street Journal *A highly readable, controversial insight into a world rarely thought about - a world of depopulation under ubiquitous urbanisation -- George Magnus, author of The Age of Aging and Red Flags: Why Xi's China is in JeopardyWhile the global population is swelling well over 7.5 billion people today, birth rates have nonetheless already begun dropping around the world. Past population declines have historically been driven by natural disasters or disease - the Toba supervolcano, Black Death or Spanish Flu - but this coming slump will be of our own demographic making. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Bricker and Ibbitson compellingly argue why by the end of this century the problem won't be overpopulation but a rapidly shrinking global populace, and how we might have to adapt -- Professor Lewis Dartnell, author of The Knowledge: How to Rebuild our World from ScratchTo get the future right we must challenge our assumptions, and the biggest assumption so many of us make is that populations will keep growing. Bricker and Ibbitson deliver a mind-opening challenge that should be taken seriously by anyone who cares about the long-term future - which, I hope, is all of us -- Dan Gardner, author of Risk and co-author of SuperforecastingThanks to the authors' painstaking fact-finding and cogent analysis, [Empty Planet] offers ample and persuasive arguments for a re-evaluation of conventional wisdom * Booklist *Warnings of catastrophic world overpopulation have filled the media since the 1960s, so this expert, well-researched explanation that it's not happening will surprise many readers . . . delightfully stimulating * Kirkus Reviews *Arresting . . . lucid, trenchant and very readable . . . a stimulating challenge to conventional wisdom * Publishers Weekly *A riveting travelogue that covers some of the most interesting places across the world -- Jinoy Josep * Business Line *The beauty of this book is that it links hard-to-grasp global trends to the easy to-understand individual choices being made all over the world today . . . a gripping narrative of a world on the cusp of profound change -- Anjana Ahuja * New Statesman *An ambitious reimagining of our demographic future -- Doug Bock Clark * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisWhy our democracies need urgent reform, before it''s too lateA generation after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world is once again on the edge of chaos. Demonstrations have broken out from Belgium to Brazil led by angry citizens demanding a greater say in their political and economic future, better education, heathcare and living standards. The bottom line of this outrage is the same; people are demanding their governments do more to improve their lives faster, something which policymakers are unable to deliver under conditions of anaemic growth. Rising income inequality and a stagnant economy are threats to both the developed and the developing world, and leaders can no longer afford to ignore this gathering storm.In Edge of Chaos, Dambisa Moyo sets out the new political and economic challenges facing the world, and the specific, radical solutions needed to resolve these issues and reignite global growth. Dambisa enumerates the four headwinds of demoTrade ReviewEdge of Chaos is intensely focused in its purpose and forthright in its findings. It has narrative drive; it is not self-indulgent or too long; and it uses statistics and other factual evidence from wide-ranging sources to powerful polemical effect * Literary Review *Moyo's familiarity with the dismal science radiates through her provocative new work, Edge of Chaos, as she argues compellingly that the global failure to achieve sustained, inclusive growth underpins the rampant political turmoil * New York Times *

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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 SynopsisOne war: three collisions--in this vividly written, narrative history of the war in Ukraine, Michael Kimmage puts together the pieces of a complicated international puzzle to understand the origins of the current conflict that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.In Collisions, Michael Kimmage, a historian and former State Department official who focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, offers a wide-angle, historically informed account of the origins of the current Russia-Ukraine war. Tracing the development of Ukraine and Russia''s fractious relationship back to the end of the Cold War, Kimmage takes readers through the central events that led to Vladimir Putin seizing a large portion of Ukraine--the Crimea--in 2014 and, eight years later, initiating arguably the most intensive military conflict of the entire post-World War II era.From the halls of power in Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow to the battlefields of Ukraine, Kimmage chronicles Putin''s ascendancy to the Russian presidency, delves into multiple American presidencies and their dealings with Russia and Europe, and recounts Europe''s efforts to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union. He tells the story of how Ukraine went from an embattled country on the edge of Europe to a formidable military power capable of pushing back the Russian military. Just as importantly, Kimmage captures how the current war has transformed multiple centers of power--from China to the United States--and dramatically altered the path of globalization itself. He makes the case that the war in Ukraine has shifted the direction of major macro-trends in world politics, contributing to the fragmentation of international politics, higher inflation, greater food insecurity, and the general collapse of arms control. These intersecting dangers amount to a new age of global instability, born in war and in the collision between Russia and the United States that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.An authoritative interpretation of possibly the most important geopolitical event of the post-Cold War era, Collisions is essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this epochal conflict and its ripple effects across the globe.

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Book SynopsisNils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, uncovers a systematic campaign to persecute Assange. He reveals that Assange has faced grave and systematic due process violations, judicial bias, collusion and manipulated evidence. He has been the victim of constant surveillance, defamation and threats. Melzer also gathered together consolidated medical evidence that proves that the prison has suffered prolonged psychological torture. Melzer's compelling investigation puts the UK and US state into the dock, showing how, through secrecy, impunity and, crucially, public indifference, unchecked power reveals a deeply undemocratic system. Furthermore, the Assange case sets a dangerous precedent: once telling the truth becomes a crime, censorship and tyranny will inevitably follow.Trade ReviewThis is a landmark book, the first by a senior international official to call out the criminality of Western governments, and their craven media echoes, in the persecution of Julian Assange. Mark the word, persecution, says Nils Melzer, as well as "our" responsibility for the ravages inflicted on an heroic man for telling forbidden truths and on democracy itself. -- John PilgerMelzer, a brave and honest man, tells the whole truth about the brutality and illegality of what is being done to Julian Assange. Read this book. -- Brian EnoThis is a harrowing account of a corruption of justice that crosses not only borders, but the United Nations itself. Melzer's work is an urgent corrective to a false history - and an act of public service. -- Edward SnowdenPolitically motivated and unjustified, the prosecution of Julian Assange by a mature democracy threatens and undermines press freedom, the rule of law, and the prohibition of torture. By painstakingly and rigorously documenting the facts, Nilz Melzer reveals the full disturbing account of how the human rights of Julian Assange have been violated over years. It's a story that must be told and from which we all must learn. -- Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General, Amnesty International, former UN Rapporteur on TortureA stunning account on how official secrecy, corruption and impunity suffocate the truth and poison the rule of law. The present-day prosecution of Julian Assange aims to complete what Richard Nixon tried and failed to do in the Pentagon Papers case fifty years ago: rescind the foundation of our republic, the First Amendment protection of freedom of the press. As Melzer argues compellingly, nothing less than our continued status as a democracy is at stake in the need to block Assange's extradition, drop the unconstitutional charges against him, or if necessary, win his acquittal. It is the legal scandal of the century. -- Daniel Ellsberg, whistleblower, the Pentagon PapersIt is as if all the Anglo-American frustrations over the disasters of Iraq, Trump and a teetering Washington political system have become concentrated in official hatred of one man: Julian Assange. This dissident faces a 175 year sentence but the soldiers who shot dead innocent Iraqi civilians- the war crime he exposed and is facing extradition for- are escaping even an investigation. The ferocious cruelty summoned for pursuit of Assange is anatomised here by Nils Melzer who implies a question that should chill us: Assange now, who next? -- Bob Carr, former Australian foreign minister and longest serving Premier of New South WalesA powerful investigation into the heart of darkness of our legal and political systems. Once you read this breath-taking book by Nils Melzer, you will know why Julian Assange is being tortured so terribly and why he should be celebrated as a true hero of the 21st century -- Srecko Horvat, author of Poetry From the FutureThe most compelling case yet made for Assange's defence and a swingeing indictment of politicians, security services and judicial authorities ... [Melzer] marshal[s] a wealth of detail and legal evidence to make his case. -- Mary Dejevsky * Independent *The most methodical and detailed recounting of the long persecution by the United States and the British government of Assange -- Chris Hedges * New Age *Enlightening ... The material Melzer has gathered over his two-year investigation is riveting, and his motivation is clear. -- Andrew Hankinson * Spectator *A remarkable book by a remarkable man ... The research, knowledge and considered thought Melzer has given to Assange's case is powerful and unanswerable. * Morning Star *Nils Melzer has given us an invaluable record of the whole judicial witch-hunt. His evolution from sceptic to truth-seeker is particularly admirable. -- Peter Whittaker * New Internationalist *

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Book Synopsis**LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2024**'A classic ... wonderfully enjoyable' WILLIAM DALRYMPLEThis is the authoritative history of South Asia in the 20th century.Shadows at Noon tells the subcontinent's story from the British Raj through independence and partition to the forging of the modern nations of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Unlike other histories of the region which concentrate exclusively on politics, here food, leisure and the household are given as much importance as nationhood, migration, and the state.Chatterji makes contemporary South Asia - its cultural vibrancy, diversity, social structures and political make-up - accesible to everyone. In so doing this bold, innovative, and personal work rallies against narratives of 'inherent' differences between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and reveals the many things its people have in common.'The story of South Asia told with verve, wit and brilliance' ANURADHA ROY'Chatterji writes with infectious relish' DOMINIC SANDBROOK'Truly magnificent' MIHIR BOSE'Wonderful' SIR MARK TULLYTrade ReviewWith clarity, wit and charm, Joya Chatterji tells the story of the subcontinent's recent history in a fluent sweeping arc ... Wide-angled and hugely ambitious, but also highly personal and pleasingly discursive, [it] is a book she has clearly enjoyed writing and, as a result, it is wonderfully enjoyable to read ... A wonderfully original, genre-defying work that is sure to be a classic * William Dalrymple, Observer *Chatterji writes with infectious relish ... It's refreshing to read a history of modern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh that rises above the usual national and chronological divisions, and that ends on a surprisingly upbeat note * Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times *Supremely readable ... Chatterji's scholarship and enthusiasm shine through. This account of South Asia surprises, moves and illuminates * Rana Mitter, Financial Times *Definitive new 20th-century thematic history of the Indian subcontinent * Financial Times *A provocative, pioneering work of political and social history… [an] invigorating book…nuanced and complex * Times Literary Supplement *Original and revealing ... this is a book which both scholars and the wider public can dip into, enjoy and learn from * Literary Review *A cheerful history of the subcontinent, by turns erudite, eclectic, analytical, gossipy and prolix * History Today *A truly magnificent book about the history, politics and culture of 20th century South Asia ... A must read * Mihir Bose, author of The Nine Waves *The story of South Asia told with verve, wit, and brilliance. This is a book that invents a genre: navigating effortlessly between the archives, conversations, memoir, newspapers, swooping out to make magisterial observations and zooming in to unearth nuggets of gossip. It is like riding a rollercoaster with a mesmerizing guide who can touch down on any part of South Asia that she chooses, before taking off again * Anuradha Roy, author of All The Lives We Never Lived *A wonderful book concentrating for once on what the peoples of different South Asian countries have in common. That's something South Asians and all the rest of us should now concentrate on * Sir Mark Tully *This book is a pleasure to read. I love its sheer bulk; its heft seems like a symbol of the inexhaustible richness of the modern history of what are now the countries of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. One of South Asia's very best historians, Chatterji weaves engaging vignettes of her own experiences into a masterful account anchored in a chronological narrative and illuminated by four brilliantly chosen thematic focuses * Professor Barbara D. Metcalf, co-author of A Concise History of Modern India *Displaying narrative sweep and analytical depth, Shadows at Noon is an incredible achievement by a historian writing at her best * Professor Rudrangshu Mukherjee *This is history as it should be written, but rarely is. Chatterji maps the journey of South Asia from the high noon of empire to today, and in so doing a rich tapestry unfolds that is unlikely to be equalled for some time * Professor Mahesh Rangarajan *History at its best; blending compelling evidence with deep insight, this is an invitation to enter worlds within worlds in the company of a master storyteller. ... [South Asia], as never before, is alive to me * Dr Simon Longstaff *A brilliant, magisterial, and wonderfully nuanced work that makes a huge contribution to our understanding of the last century ... Every line holds some gem, triggers some memory, or gives new insight. This work sparkles * Professor Robert Frykenberg *One of the best books I've read in years. Chatterji's magnum opus * Professor Prasannan Parthasarathi *A charismatic, dazzling piece of work that has the feel of a future classic. Shadows at Noon is remarkably rich and full of life, packed with insights conveyed through beautifully moving storytelling. A unique and vital book, it is at once incredibly informative, profound and very readable - a genuine page-turner * Dr Edward Anderson *Both erudite and intimate, Chatterji narrates how South Asia in the twentieth century produced democracy and authoritarianism, inclusion and violent exclusion, all at the same time, explaining our present as well as giving us an account of the past * Professor Durba Ghosh *A tour de force of contemporary history of the Indian subcontinent. Its masterly analysis of the big picture - nationalisms, citizenship and the State - sets the stage for its innovative focus on ordinary people and their lives. A brilliant, wonderful read * Professor Deepak Nayyar *This book's promise to deliver a 'people-centred history' of South Asia over the twentieth century is no small task. Chatterji's epic work meanders across this huge terrain, taking a series of imaginative angles such as the histories of the household, music, film and food, as well as many others. Combining scholarly rigour with a spontaneous tone and autobiographical style, this is a courageous and captivating work * Professor Justin Jones *A historical epic in prose - masterly, original, provocative - and, yes, compellingly readable * India Today *[A] bold, innovative and personal work rallies against standard narratives of ‘inherent’ differences between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and reveals the many things its people have in common * Asian Art Newspaper, *Books of the Year* *A brilliant analysis of political and social change, Joya Chatterji’s history of South Asia is one of the most enjoyable reads around * Politics Home *

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

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Book SynopsisThis nation’s Cold War and Global War on Terror defense structures need an update.  U.S. Naval Power in the 21st Century provides such a framework for the changed world we live in, offering a detailed roadmap that shows how the United States can field a war-winning fleet that can also compete aggressively in peacetime against dangerous competitors unlike any the nation has faced before. Brent Sadler presents a compelling new strategy and organizing approach that he calls naval statecraft, which acknowledges the centrality and importance of the maritime domain. While similar in scale and scope to Cold War containment strategies against the Soviets, naval statecraft is much more. It must be to challenge China’s involvement in global supply chains, which gives that country significant financial heft and influence around the world.  Unlike what existed during of the Cold War, however, Sadler provides a unique vision for competing with China and Russia. Rather than simply calling for better coordinated U.S. diplomacy, military operations, and economic statecraft, Sadler argues for integrating the levers of national power coherently and in a sustainable way.  This is no small feat, and his approach is informed by a long career rich in working with various agencies of government, foreign militaries (including hostile ones), and our allies.  It is an approach imminently appropriate to our times but comes with a realization that the nation is not ready for the competition it faces from China and Russia. The book is a valuable contribution to the national debate over how best to respond to China’s rise and Russia’s antagonisms.Trade ReviewBrent Sadler’s U.S. Naval Power in the 21st Century makes a detailed case for stronger U.S. diplomatic engagement around the world, backed by renewed naval and maritime power. Those seeking to learn a naval perspective on today’s strategic problems should begin their study here."—Robert Haddick, author of Fire on the Water, Second Edition: China, America, and the Future of the Pacific; Visiting Senior Fellow, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies "Brent Sadler has written a provocative and important book. It is especially timely, addressing the important challenges to U.S. national security posed by China and Russia. Sadler, a retired submariner and advisor to senior Naval commanders and civilian defense officials, has the experience and qualifications to address the security problems currently facing the Navy and the nation. His book is particularly valuable for offering a whole-of-government approach to meeting the nation’s security challenges, with the Navy as the necessary central force in guaranteeing national security."—Bernard D. Cole, Capt., USN (Ret.), Author of China’s Quest for Great Power: Ships, Oil, and Diplomacy (USNIP, 2016) “Brent Sadler’s timely and compelling contribution to maritime strategy and broader strategic thinking is refreshing. He convincingly blends military, economic, and technical insight in addressing the strategic challenges of our time. U.S. Naval Power in the 21st Century stands apart as a thoughtful and convincing call for relevant and renewed American naval power and the imperative of naval statecraft in ensuring American prosperity and global influence.” —ADM Gary Roughead, USN (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations

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Book SynopsisTowards the Abyss presents searching analysis of a decade of war and upheaval in Ukraine. Volodymyr Ishchenko has been among the left's most significant commentators on Ukraine since 2014, when pro-EU protestors toppled the government in Kiev, Russia annexed Crimea and pro-Russian separatists seized parts of the Donbass. One of his first thoughts when he read the news of the full-scale Russian invasion on 24 February 2022 was that no matter how the war ends, he will no longer have a homeland.What has happened in Ukraine ever since the Soviet collapse is a drawn-out process of de-modernization, and the downward spiral is getting faster. Ishchenko argues that the conflict being fought in Ukraine with tanks, artillery and rockets is the same conflict suppressed by police batons in Belarus and in Russia itself. The intensification of the post-Soviet crisis - the incapacity of an oligarchic ruling class in the territories of the former USSR to sustain political or moral leadership - is the root cause of the escalating violence.Trade ReviewA nuanced, melancholy, sophisticated and gratifyingly intimate glimpse into war-torn Ukraine -- Yanis Varoufakis, author of TechnofeudalismThe huge choruses of these times will probably go down in history as mere noise. Might the lone voice of Ishchenko then sound prophetic? -- Georgi Derluguian, author of Bourdieu’s Secret Admirer in the CaucasusA brilliant cri de cour from a Soviet Ukrainian searching the historical horizon for a political model beyond neoliberalism and regressive nationalism -- Dylan Riley, author of Microverses[A] pugnacious debut ... those wanting a better understanding of the Russia-Ukraine conflict would do well to check out this left-wing analysis. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsPreface: A Wrong UkrainianEditorial Note20141. Ukraine Protests Are No Longer Just about Europe2. Maidan Mythologies3. A Comedian in a Drama4. From Ukraine with Comparisons5. The Vicious Post-Soviet Circle with Oleg Zhuravlev20226. Three Scenarios for the Ukraine-Russia Crisis7. NATO through Ukrainian Eyes8. Behind Russia's War Is Thirty Years of Post-Soviet Class Conflict9. Ukrainian Voices?Interview: Towards the AbyssNotesAcknowledgementsIndex

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Book SynopsisA sharp vision of our changing world order as Covid and climate breakdown usher in a new ‘survival of the fittest’. How well have different cultures and societies responded, and could this become a turning point in the flow of history? Before Covid, a new competition was already arising between alternative geopolitical models–but the context of this clash wasn’t yet clear. What if it takes place on neutral ground? In a state of nature, with few or no political rules, amid quickly evolving chaos? When the greatest threat to national security is no longer other states, but the environment itself, which countries might rise to the top? This book explores how Covid-19 has already transformed the global system, and how it serves as a prelude to a planet afflicted by climate change. Bruno Maçães is one of the first to see the pandemic as the dawn of a new strategic era, heralding a profoundly changed world-political landscape. Cover image: Ludwig Meidner, ‘Apocalyptic City’, 1913. © Ludwig Meidner-Archiv, Jüdisches Museum der Stadt Frankfurt am MainTrade Review'Perceptive.' -- The Economist'Refreshing.' -- Simon Jenkins, New Statesman'Provocative and original.' -- Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Financial Times'Endlessly inventive, restlessly cosmopolitan, Bruno Macaes has written an essential book with which to think about the Covid crisis and its implications for our future.' -- Professor Adam Tooze, historian and author of 'Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World''With typical panache, Macaes set out the story of what went wrong when Covid-19 spread around the world--and why. Gripping, terrifying and revealing in equal measures.' -- Professor Peter Frankopan, author of 'The Silk Roads: A New History of the World''2020 was the true start of the twenty-first century, marking the death of an old world, and a recognition that new ideas in culture, politics, science and technology have become possible. Macaes does an excellent job of taking us through some core themes of the world to come.' -- Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum and Bitcoin Magazine'Travelling through Covid exposes the reality of our leaders and lives. Maçães shows us why that matters not just for the pandemic but for life itself. This is a compelling polemic worth reading slowly, during another lockdown, perhaps.' -- Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling'An important book. Bruno Macaes once again asks the crucial questions.' -- Ece Temelkuran, journalist, novelist, political commentator and author of 'How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship'

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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 SynopsisHow did Vladimir Putin win Russians’ support for his genocidal war in Ukraine and why are so many of them willing to embrace fascism? This vivid, bottom-up narrative reveals the dark realities of youth fascism in Russia—and the darker future awaiting the country if that hold cannot be broken. Wartime Russia is drowning in fascist symbols. Zealous patriots attack journalists, opposition activists, and anyone suspected of betraying the motherland. Hordes of online trolls and sleek videos of angry young men urge citizens to join the cause. State television terrifies viewers with false tales of anti-Russian conspiracies and genocidal yearnings. Child soldiers proudly parade across Red Square. This is Russia in the 2020s: a land of performative rage and nationalist untruth, where pretence and broken promises are a way of life, and an apocalyptic mindset is seizing tomorrow’s Russians. As compelling as it is chilling, Z Generation shows how Russia has ended up here, and where its young people may be headed: a fascist generation more violent and ideological than anything the country has seen before.Trade Review'A chilling investigation into the widespread support for the violence and ideology of fascism among Russia’s youth — and how Putin has used this to his advantage.' * Financial Times *'An incandescent indictment of [Putin's] regime... Garner writes with dash and panache, and pulls no punches as he rips through the evolution of the Putin regime.' -- The Sunday Times'A brilliantly detailed portrait of the ideological and cultural atmosphere engineered by the Russian state, media and Church... a chilling and essential book.' -- Times Literary Supplement'A chilling and eye-opening primer on how the Kremlin is cultivating a new generation of foot soldiers who will ensure that its ugly ideology survives even if the current regime falls.' -- The Moscow Times‘[A] chilling exposé.’ -- Airmail'Astutely examines Russian youth's growing embrace of fascism.' -- Prospect'Dissects the state's efforts to reshape the minds of Russia's young people.' -- New Lines Magazine‘A readable and disturbing account of the militarisation of Russia’s youth.’ -- The House Magazine'['Z Generation'] is invaluable to understanding how the conflict may well progress.' -- Diplomatic Courier, '15 Books to Look Forward to in 2023''Ian Garner has produced a brilliant and chilling investigation. He meticulously details how extraordinary levels of hate permeate a large section of the under-30s, who came of age under Putin's tutelage. No one can finish this book and still believe the invasion of Ukraine was just the fault of one bad guy in the Kremlin. As Garner so expertly shows, whatever happens in the war, we will be dealing with the consequences of Russian fascism for years to come.' -- Nick Cohen, Observer columnist and author‘A deeply disturbing, anecdotal exploration of the rise of fascism in Russia.’ -- Diplomatic Courier'Z Generation provides an excellent survey of the hateful content and deluded worldview of an increasingly mainstream fascism in Russia.' -- CHOICE'A forensic and grippingly-told examination of the descent of Russian youth into state-encouraged violent fascism. Garner makes the reader understand both the scale of the problem, and that it is one we will be facing for decades to come.' -- David Patrikarakos, author of 'War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century''An unflinching and essential portrayal of the Putler Jugend with all its paradoxes and sadism.' -- Peter Pomerantsev, author of 'Nothing is True and Everything is Possible: Adventures in Modern Russia''If you thought Putin's Russia was an ideology-free kleptocracy and most Russians are ashamed of or opposed to the invasion of Ukraine, read Ian Garner's gripping historical-cultural analysis of the descent of a portion of Russia's youth into fascist euphoria in support of their country's illegal invasion of Ukraine.' -- Maria Popova, Associate Professor of Political Science and Jean Monnet Chair, McGill University'What do young Russians think about their country, Putin and the world? Why do many tech-savvy, successful and well-educated young Russians support their country's invasion of Ukraine? Combining personal observations and academic research, this provocative book addresses questions crucial for understanding Russia's past, present and future.' -- Eugene Finkel, Kenneth H. Keller Associate Professor of International Affairs, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and editor of 'Coloured Revolutions and Authoritarian Reactions''Ian Garner's exceptional book deals with its subject matter--the growth of Russian fascism--in a way that is multifaceted and nuanced, but also clear-sighted about the threat it poses to Russia's neighbours, the liberal international order and Russia itself.' -- Mart Kuldkepp, Associate Professor of Scandinavian History and Politics, University College London

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Book Synopsis''Captivating The stuff of thrillers'' - the Financial Times An explosive new vision of geopolitics from two trail-blazing political scientistsDeep beneath our feet, vast and sprawling, lies one of the most sophisticated empires the world has ever known. At first glance, it might not look like much - it is made up of fibre optic cables and obscure payment systems. But according to prominent political scientists Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman, the United States has turned the most vital pathways of the world economy into tools of domination over foreign businesses and countries, whether they are rivals or allies, allowing it to maintain global supremacy.Drawing on original reporting and ground-breaking research, Farrell and Newman explain how this underground empire has allowed the United States to eavesdrop on other countries and isolate its enemies. Now, efforts by countries such as China and Russia to untether themselves fro

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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 SynopsisWinner of the Pushkin House Book Prize 2023*A Telegraph Book of the Year* A Times Best Book of Summer 2023*Shortlisted for the Parliamentary Book Awards*An astonishing investigation into the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war from the corridors of the Kremlin to the trenches of Mariupol.The Russo-Ukrainian War is the most serious geopolitical crisis since the Second World War and yet at the heart of the conflict is a mystery. Vladimir Putin apparently lurched from a calculating, subtle master of opportunity to a reckless gambler, putting his regime and Russia itself at risk of destruction. Why?Drawing on over 25 years' experience as a correspondent in Moscow, as well as his own family ties to Russia and Ukraine, journalist Owen Matthews takes us through the poisoned historical roots of the conflict, into the Covid bubble where Putin conceived his invasion plans in a fog of paranoia about Western threats, and finally into the inner circle around Ukrainian president and unexpected war Trade Review‘Not merely the first full account of the war in Ukraine, but may set the standard for some time to come … a remarkable achievement, with Matthews’s expert eye like an all-seeing drone, buzzing from one side of the conflict to the other’ 5* Telegraph ‘A vivid and revealing first draft of history … The strength of his account lies in his ability to tell the story from many angles, weaving them into a single, fast-paced narrative … fascinating’ Financial Times ‘The best current analysis of the countdown to war’ Serhii Plokhy, TLS ‘There will be many more books on Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, but Owen Matthews’ extraordinary perspective has produced an interim account of special value.’ Daily Mail ‘A wave of hurriedly written books about the Russo-Ukrainian war is about to crash over our bookshops and overburdened shelves, but it is hard not to feel sorry for most of their authors. Owen Matthews has already come out with what is not only one of the fastest, but also likely to be the best, setting a painfully high benchmark for those who follow.’ Times ‘The best new book on Russia … a classic as enduring as Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia’ Literary Review ‘Superb … a true page-turner’ Andrew Roberts, BBC History

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Book SynopsisCharles Maier offers a new narrative of the long twentieth century, focused on institutions that shaped politics and societies: project-states, driven by democratic or authoritarian ideologies; capital; and advocates of apolitical values, such as health, human rights, and international law. In this we discern the unfolding of our own troubled time.Trade ReviewMaier offers an alternative account of the last century, looking at how a wide range of actors tried to harness industrial modernity in the pursuit of power and material interests…[He] weaves a narrative about the explosive interplay of economic privilege and political grievance. -- G. John Ikenberry * Foreign Affairs *Ambitious…It is Maier’s open worry about the fragility of our democratic order and about the considerable strength of the antidemocratic impulses in this third decade of the 21st century that makes The Project-State and Its Rivals a book that will last. -- Paul Kennedy * Wall Street Journal *Extraordinarily erudite and brimming with insight…[Maier] leaves open the question of whether the project-state will escape the dustbin of history and be revivified and redeployed, democratically, for the common good. -- Jonathan Ira Levy * Project Syndicate *Through his decades of scholarship and teaching on both sides of the Atlantic, Charles S. Maier has focused on one basic question, formulating and refining his answers with each successive book and monograph. His goal has been to understand and explain the ways in which advanced capitalist states evolved over the past century in response to world war, colonial war, cold war and economic globalisation. This…fascinating book provides a summation and updating of Maier’s lifelong work. -- David C. Unger * Survival *A very refreshing take on a history I thought I knew well. -- J. Bradford Delong * Harvard Magazine *[The] story of the exhaustion of the postwar political-economic order has now been told many times; what sets Maier’s account apart is the way he weaves together the work of capitalist activists and their allies in politics and think tanks with the work of governance activists in the same years. His wide-angle lens shows how the political and economic turbulence of that period led not only to the Volcker shock but to the rising prominence of NGOs and foundations seeking to restore order and stability at home and abroad. -- Jonathan S. Blake * Boston Review *An intriguing, sophisticated book about the relationships between the evolution of the modern nation-state and the concurrent forces of capitalism, popular politics, socialist responses, and bureaucratic governance. This is a deep and clever work, the culmination of an erudite historian's long grappling with humankind's mixed record of progress and failure. -- Paul Kennedy, author of The Rise and Fall of the Great PowersCharles Maier has produced a brilliantly innovative reconceptualization of twentieth-century history in terms of the interaction between states, resources, and markets. He sets a bold agenda for future thinking about the shape of the past one hundred years. -- Harold James, author of The War of Words: A Glossary of GlobalizationA true history of the present. The Project-State and Its Rivals is a powerful, insightful, and penetrating analysis of the major shifts in global order and social dynamics across the past century. There are few historians today who can venture to undertake such a tour d'horizon with equal confidence and expertise as Maier. -- Sebastian Conrad, author of What Is Global History?

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Book SynopsisIn this engaging book, David M. McCourt makes the case for New Constructivist approaches to international relations scholarship. The book traces constructivist work on culture, identity, and norms within the historical, geographical, and professional contexts of world politics, and reflects on recent innovations in fields including practice theory, relationalism, and network analysis. Copiously illustrated with real-world examples from the rise of China and US foreign policy, it illuminates the processes by which international politics are built. This is both an accessible tour of Constructivism to date and a persuasive declaration for its continuing application and value.Table of ContentsIntroduction: What Is Constructivism? 1. The Old Constructivism 2. The New Constructivism 3. Rules, Law, and Language in the New Constructivism 4. World-Making: Experts and Professionals in the New Constructivism 5. New Constructivist Methodology and Methods 6. Politics, Ethics, and Knowledge in the New Constructivism 7. The New Constructivism as a Phronetic Social Science Conclusion: The Space of Constructivism

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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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Book SynopsisIn this affecting and innovative global history - starting with the European children who fled the perils of World War II and ending with the Central American children who arrive every day at the US southern border - Anita Casavantes Bradford traces the evolution of American policy toward unaccompanied children.

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Book Synopsis You’re entitled to your own opinion but not your own factsFantasy is the USA’s primary product. From the Pilgrim Fathers onward America has been a place where renegades and freaks came in search of freedom to create their own realities with little objectively regulated truth standing in their way. The freedom to invent and believe whatever the hell you like is, in some ways, an unwritten constitutional right. But, this do-your-own-thing freedom also is the driving credo of America's current transformation where the difference between opinion and fact is rapidly crumbling. So how did we get to this weird pseudo-reality, where science and objective facts are dismissed in favour of opinions and wild speculation, or indeed, fantasies? The post truth, fake news, free-for-all mentality isn’t exactly a new phenomenon. If you want to understand Trump's America, how the lines between reality and illusion have become dangerously blurred, you have to go back to the very beginning and take a dizzying road trip across five centuries of crackpot delusion and make-believe from Salem to Scientology.Fantasyland is a journey that connects the dots between crazed franchises of true believers – a rich freak show tapestry from Mormons to Flat-Earthers and satanic panic, new age quacks to anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists of every stripe, creationists to climate change deniers, UFO-obsessives to gun-toting libertarians, showmen hucksters from P T Barnum to Trump himself, all topped off with a dangerous dose of anti-government paranoia and pseudoscience. Along the way, New York Times bestselling author Kurt Andersen has created a unique and raucous history of America and a new paradigm for understanding our post-factual world.Trade ReviewNot only a must-read for anyone wanting to understand Trump’s America but also a laugh-out-loud undiluted pleasure -- Will Storr, author of SelfieThis is an important book - the indispensable book - for understanding America in the age of Trump. It’s an eye-opening history filled with brilliant insights, a saga of how we were always susceptible to fantasy, from the Puritan fanatics to the talk-radio and Internet wackos who mix show business, hucksterism, and conspiracy theories. -- Walter Isaacson, author of Steve JobsFantasyland presents the very best kind of idea – one that, in retrospect, seems obvious, but which took a seer like Kurt Andersen to piece together. The thinking and the writing are both dazzling; it is at once a history lesson and an oh-so-modern cri de coeur; it’s an absolute joy to read, and will leave your brain dancing with excitement long after you’re done -- Stephen Dubner, co-author of FreakonomicsAn absorbing, must-read polemic. * Newsday *The most important book that I have read this year. -- Lawrence O'Donnell * The Last Word, MSNBC *

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