Geopolitics Books
Bloomsbury Academic Detente
Book SynopsisBetween 1968 and 1975, there was a subtle thawing of relations between East and West, for which Brezhnev coined the name Détente, and perhaps a chance to end the Cold War. The leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union, Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev, hoped to forge a new relationship between East and West. Yet, the greatest changes of the era took place outside the sphere of international diplomacy. The 1960s brought social collision across the world, from the anti-war protests in America to the student demonstrations on the streets of Paris, and Mao Zedong''s Red Guards in China. A new generation, whom advertising executives dubbed the baby-boomers, brought new attitudes to towards sex, gender, race, the environment and religion. In this book, Richard Crowder explores the years of Détente, and introduces us to the key players of the era, whose stories form the narrative of this book.Trade ReviewA sweeping and evocative account of the Cold War’s thaw… It’s fast-moving, engaging and authoritative in equal measure. 5 stars. * All About History *Richard Crowder’s broad-ranging account of ‘détente’, the comparative relaxation of Cold War tension which lasted from the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 to the American withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975, shows in colourful, lively and meticulous detail how Nixon and Brezhnev constructed fragile barriers against mutual annihilation, even while one was coping with a violently divided America and the other with an increasingly dysfunctional Soviet Union. * Rodric Braithwaite *Richard Crowder has managed to write about these turbulent years in vivid detail in a way that combines serious research and readability. * Richard Harries, Baron Harries of Pentregarth *Richard Crowder possesses a rich array of gifts which carry his fascinating story with zest and insight—a mix of his sense of moment, character and context all enhanced by his insider’s feel for diplomacy and statecraft. Roll on volume three of this fascinating cold war narrative. * Peter Hennessy, Baron Hennessy of Nympsfield *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: Seeing Glory Chapter Two: Time Ending Chapter Three: Coming Darkness Chapter Four: The Cock Crows Chapter Five: Courage to Change Chapter Six: The Topmost Branch Chapter Seven: Hurting Each Other Chapter Eight: Sweet Rain Chapter Nine: Monster Rising Chapter Ten: The Humiliated Men Chapter Eleven: Awful Wisdom Chapter Twelve: Horizon of Dreams
£38.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Russias War on Everybody
Book SynopsisYou may not be interested in Russia. But Russia is interested in you.Russia's 2022 attack on Ukraine saw confrontation between Moscow and the West spill over into open conflict once again. But Russia has also been waging a clandestine war against the West for decades. Hostile acts abroad, from poisoning dissidents to shooting down airliners, interfering in elections, spying, hacking and murdering, have long seemed to be the Kremlin's daily business. But what is it all for? Why does Russia consistently behave like this? And what does it achieve?Now containing a new preface to the paperback edition, Keir Giles explains how and why Russia pushes for more power and influence wherever it can reach, far beyond Ukraine and what it means not just for governments, but for ordinary people. Bringing together stories from the military, politics, diplomacy, espionage, cyber power, organised crime and more, Giles describes how Moscow conducts its campaigns across the globe, anTrade ReviewSuperb . . . coherent and eminently readable. . . . Giles brings home the causes and consequences of Moscow's actions to the average reader. . . . Russia's War on Everybody is an invaluable piece of a growing mosaic of renewed expertise on, and interest in, Russia. . . . It is a needed accompaniment to the more academic reflections on the Kremlin's behavior. . . . Giles is a welcome guide for readers along this path. * Diplomatic Courier *[Giles's] analysis of the way the current government thinks and acts should be taken seriously. He has an excellent grasp of Putin's view of the world. * The Conversation *An important book. -- Martin Chilton * The Independent *An important and timely book that covers the range of current activities of Russia's ruling regime, discussing issue areas that are only going to become more important in coming decades. * War in Ukraine: Update from Kyiv *An essential text on understanding modern Russia's role in the world, delivering a deep dive into the many facets of the Russian mindset when dealing with the West. * Eliot Higgins, founder and director of Bellingcat *Keir Giles has long been one of the most informed and consistent voices warning about the threat Putin's Russia poses its neighbours and the West as a whole, and this book is a combative and comprehensive assessment of the challenge... it deserves to be read and discussed widely, not least to get us thinking about what else we may face in the future. * Professor Mark Galeotti, author of 'We Need To Talk About Putin' *Nobody cuts through the nonsense around what Russia does, and why it does it, like Keir Giles. If anybody was still in any doubt about why Russia is everybody's problem, the answers are here. Keir Giles lays out clearly and simply why Russia's war is not just against Ukraine - it's against all of us. * Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Former President of Estonia *An invaluable and timely wake up call. . . . A thought provoking, comprehensive and excellent book that should be absorbed by all those concerned with the progression and eventual outcome of what is by now a long term struggle between Russia as at present misgoverned and a wide swathe of the rest of the world. * Sir Andrew Wood, British Ambassador to Moscow, 1995-2000 *Relevant, timely, and essential for understanding why Russia must be defeated, not only in Ukraine but in its war on everybody. * LTG (Ret) Ben Hodges, Human Rights First *A compelling text on why Russia is a threat not just to the Western world as such, it's a threat to every citizen; directly and maliciously. A threat to your way of life and your loved ones. Just because its mere legitimization is not possible without such a threat. * Pavlo Klimkin, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine *This is a highly detailed and readable book. Referenced to a high standard, the reader can really dig into the sources of information, and it is academic in its framing and development of arguments without compromising its readability. Taking a completely different approach to most books, it really digs into why Russia acts as it does, and what it hopes to achieve. This is an important distinction and adds significant value compared to a lot of more recent narrative assessments of wider Russian malign activity. -- James Burton * Wavell Room *Table of ContentsDedication Table of Contents Acknowledgements Preface to the New Paperback Preface 1. What Makes Russia Different 2. Politics: Warfare By Other Means 3. Neither War Nor Peace 4. What the Russian Army is For 5. Nobody Is Too Unimportant 6. The Willing Accomplices 7. Business, Statecraft And Crime 8. What Comes Next Appendix Selected Reading Index
£12.34
Quercus Publishing Ottoman Odyssey: Travels through a Lost Empire:
Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR**Alev Scott's odyssey began when she looked beyond Turkey's borders for contemporary traces of the Ottoman Empire. Their 800-year rule ended a century ago - and yet, travelling through twelve countries from Kosovo to Greece to Palestine, she uncovers a legacy that's vital and relevant; where medieval ethnic diversity meets 21st century nationalism, and displaced people seek new identities.It's a story of surprises. An acolyte of Erdogan in Christian-majority Serbia confirms the wide-reaching appeal of his authoritarian leadership. A Druze warlord explains the secretive religious faction in the heart of the Middle East. The palimpsest-like streets of Jerusalem's Old Town hint at the Ottoman co-existence of Muslims and Jews. And in Turkish Cyprus Alev Scott rediscovers a childhood home. In every community, history is present as a dynamic force.Faced by questions of exile, diaspora and collective memory, Alev Scott searches for answers from the cafes of Beirut to the refugee camps of Lesbos. She uncovers in Erdogan's nouveau-Ottoman Turkey a version of the nostalgic utopias sold to disillusioned voters in Europe and the U.S. And yet - as she relates with compassion, insight and humour - diversity is the enduring, endangered heart of this fascinating region.Trade ReviewA lovely, lyrical and always insightful account that is as much about the present as the past. A joy from start to finish * Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads *Beautifully written with clear-eyed judgements and a sharp ear for fascinating anecdote and memorable characters. Exhilarating and often eye-opening, it shows this crucial region of the world from a new perspective. Essential reading for anyone interested in Turkey and its history * Michael Wood *Alev Scott approaches the crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean by side roads and unfrequented channels. Her book is clear, bright, humane and never disheartened. * James Buchan *Brilliantly written with a real feel for character, the book is a pleasure to read and an erudite lesson in a fascinating chapter of Modern History. An indispensable addition to our understanding of the Middle East today. * Roger Scruton *This is a book full of fun, "I never knew that" moments . . . Scott's mission is not to tell the history of the calamitous way the British and French dismantled the empire. Her aim is to find out whether the bits left behind as Ottoman imperialists became Turkish nationalist have common threads . . . She is fascinated by the survival and difference of forgotten, represses and otherwise threatened minorities -- Richard Spencer * The Times *Moving and amusing * Financial Times *Beautifully written - combines history, travel writing and personal discovery . . . Scott's writing is lyrical . . . She writes with a maturity and insight that belies her age, and is surely a rising star of the literary world. Her overall message is one of optimism. -- Saul David * Telegraph *Despite the bloody histories and ugly contemporary realities she seeks to investigate, Scott is always entertaining. She regales her reader with witty pen portraits. -- Alev Adil * Times Literary Supplement *
£10.44
Verso Books Towards the Abyss: Ukraine from Maidan to War
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
£12.34
Penguin Books Ltd Europe
Book SynopsisBrendan Simms''s formidable, game-changing history of EuropeIn this marvelously ambitious and exciting book, Brendan Simms tells the story of Europe''s constantly shifting geopolitics and the peculiar circumstances that have made it both so impossible to dominate, but also so dynamic and ferocious. It is the story of a group of highly competitive and mutually suspicious dynasties, but also of a continent uniquely prone to interference from ''semi-detached'' elements, such as Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Britain and (just as centrally to Simms''s argument) the United States.Trade ReviewBrendan Simms is a historian of unusual range and ability ... this book is driven by two great master-ideas, and there is hardly a page in it where their presence is not felt ... the reader always has the exhilarating sense of moving swiftly onwards, in a kind of turbocharged Rolls-Royce of historical argumentation ... truly powerful and original -- Noel Malcolm * Telegraph *Ought to sit on the desk of every politician, pundit and policy wonk ... [Simms] marshals the great events ... with a breath-stopping assurance. Panoramic, multi-faceted ... sweeping, well-paced narrative ... awesome command. This is top-down European history, diplomatic and political, seen from the soaring eagle's eye. But what an eagle; and what an eye -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Europe is a superb, sure-footed analysis of how this center of world civilization, technology, and warfare evolved since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It is unabashedly political history, and the better for being so. Simms's acumen and sharp opinions are a joy to read. This book will be appreciated both by the general reader, and by history teachers everywhere -- Paul KennedyBrendan Simms's new history [is] especially timely. He has, in effect, dropped a big stone into the European pond and stood back to watch the ripples spread ... Compelling and provocative ... This is sweeping history, told with verve and panache, and it is all the more refreshing for that * Economist *This is a brilliant and beautifully written history. From the Holy Roman Empire to the Euro, Brendan Simms shows that one of the constant preoccupations of Europeans has always been the geography, the power and the needs of Germany. Europe is a work of extraordinary scholarship delivered with the lightest of touches. It will be essential, absorbing reading for anyone trying to understand both the past and the present of one of the most productive and most dangerous continents on earth -- William ShawcrossA stimulating, impressive history that starts with the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 and extends to the present day ... perspicacious and flexible ... an excellent read and its insights into the grand themes of European history are penetrating and lucidly argued -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *Unrepentantly old-fashioned, lively and erudite ... The book is centrally concerned, rightly, with Germany, which Simms knows at first hand. Its great strength is that you are always reminded that European countries did not grow autonomously ... Europe is very ambitious in scope ... The references are prodigious, multilingual and extremely useful ... Simms knows what he is talking about -- Norman Stone * New Statesman *How do you write a history of Europe ... without making it seem like a list of dates? The answer of Brendan Simms in his new book is both simple and brilliantly successful: take a strong thesis and argue it through from start to finish ... Simms has the breadth of knowledge and clarity of vision to make his case compelling. His book is also immensely entertaining as well as instructive. There are few pages not enlivened by sharp insight, telling vignette or memorable turn of phrase. In short, this is a great book and everyone interested in European history will want to read it -- Tim Blanning * BBC History Magazine *There is nothing in the recent literature to match it ... Not only has Simms bitten off a huge chunk of history, he has mastered it with style and an awe-inspiring command of the literature ... [a] Herculean feat of synthesis -- Josef Joffe * Prospect *Exciting ... In [Simms's] survey of European power politics through six centuries and more, he dissects the economic, social, administrative and religious aspects of the "domestic" life of the states involved ... Simms's eye for the telling detail is shown ... [his] majestic prose flows impressively ... lucid and perceptive * Times Higher Education *[An] encyclopaedic, ambitious and fluent history of Europe ... [like] a great game of chess, except that as well as black and white pieces there are green, blue, orange and purple ones all moving around a multidimensional board. Place names swirl, battles are won and lost, and the pieces are reordered ... Inevitably readers will be drawn to Simms's fascinating picture of the origins of the European Union ... thoughtful and stimulating -- David Abulafia * Standpoint *A tour de force ... With phenomenal surefootedness, [Simms] picks out the patterns in what might otherwise appear a trackless waste of victories, defeats, treaties and coalitions, extracting from them provocative lessons for Europe's present and future. Big ideas animate the book ... This fascinating book deserves a wide readership. Even those who do not share Simms's fears and hopes for the European Union will be enthralled by the brilliance of his analysis and the dizzying breadth of his vision -- Christopher Clark * Mail on Sunday *Prodigious ... in its pages whole empires rise and fall ... Europe draws the reader forward with its grand epic of shifting alliances, clashing armies and ambitious statecraft. Mr. Simms ... is a skilled writer with a rare gift for compressed analysis. His focus on the military and diplomatic arc of European history lends his book a strong narrative line and thematic coherence -- Jeffrey Collins * Wall Street Journal *European history comes in many guises, but Brendan Simms's strategic and geopolitical approach provides a strong and lucid framework within which everything else fits into place. His emphasis on the centrality of Germany offsets more western-orientated accounts while also giving due prominence to Eastern Europe. Covering the whole of the modern period, this book is more than an excellent introduction; it's a major interpretational achievement -- Norman DaviesWorld history is German history, and German history is world history. This is the powerful case made by this gifted historian of Europe, whose expansive erudition revives the proud tradition of the history of geopolitics, and whose immanent moral sensibility reminds us that human choices made in Berlin (and London) today about the future of Europe might be decisive for the future of the world -- Timothy Snyder (author of Bloodlands)A tremendous feat ... Simms's pages teem with some of the greatest characters in European history -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Remarkably, such a large and complex book ... offers a very straightforward argument and thesis ... The more familiar the story, the more arresting is Simms's repositioning of it ... This isn't simply academic history but an account of how we came to be, albeit ambivalently and conflictedly, involved in a continental narrative that is still unfolding * Sunday Herald *
£15.29
Oxford University Press Inc The Digital Double Bind
Book SynopsisThe digital has emerged as a driving force of change that is reshaping everyday life and affecting nearly every sphere of vital activity. Yet, its impact has been far from uniform. The multifaceted implications of these ongoing shifts differ markedly across the world, demanding a nuanced understanding of specific manifestations and local experiences of the digital.In The Digital Double Bind, Mohamed Zayani and Joe F. Khalil explore how the Middle East''s digital turn intersects with complex political, economic, and socio-cultural dynamics. Drawing on local research and rich case studies, they show how the same forces that brought promises of change through digital transformation have also engendered tensions and contradictions. The authors contend that the ensuing disjunctures have ensnared the region in a double bind, which represents the salient feature of an unfolding digital turn. The same conditions that drive the state, market, and public immersion in the digital also inhibit the
£18.99
The History Press Ltd Current Intelligence
Book SynopsisA gripping history charting the flow of intelligence from the CIA to the president in the twentieth century
£17.00
Rowman & Littlefield Ukraines Revolt Russias Revenge
Book Synopsis
£26.25
Hoover Institution Press,U.S. Asias New Geopolitics
Book SynopsisExamines key issues transforming the Indo-Pacific and the broader world. Michael Auslin also explores the history of American strategy in Asia, from the 18th century to today. Taken together, Auslin's essays convey the richness and diversity of the region.Trade Review“Auslin presents a wide-ranging analysis of the implications of this new great-power rivalry. . . . [He] succeeds in his aim of reviving an older method of geopolitical thinking.” — National Review“If the Indo-Pacific is the map on which the future power balance will be redrawn, this book is a good investment in familiarizing yourself with the terrain.” — The Wire China“Auslin identifies the critical factors that will determine whether the future for free and open societies across the Indo-Pacific region remains bright or a darker future emerges in which autocratic and closed systems are ascendant.” — H. R. McMaster, former US national security advisor and author of Battlegrounds
£25.46
Little, Brown Book Group The Afghans
Book Synopsis''Åsne Seierstad is the supreme non-fiction writer of her generation'' Luke Harding''As an exploration of the social fabric of Afghan life, this book takes some beating'' DAILY TELEGRAPH''No other recent book on the subject comes close'' CPW Gammell, author of The Pearl of KhorasanIn her international bestseller The Bookseller of Kabul, award-winning journalist Åsne Seierstad studied life in Afghanistan before and after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Now twenty years later, the Taliban is back in power, and Seierstad returns with The Afghans, a book to help us understand Afghanistan''s past, present and future, told through the lives of three unforgettable people. In her compelling, intimate and thought-provoking new book, Seierstad introduces us to three people whose lives have been shaped by the fall and rise of the Taliban - Jamila, Bashir and Ariana - as well their families, friends, foes a
£21.25
Pan Macmillan The Glass Wall: Lives on the Baltic Frontier
Book SynopsisThis journey to the edge of Europe mixes history, travelogue and oral testimony to spellbinding and revelatory effect.Few countries have suffered more from the convulsions and bloodshed of twentieth-century Europe than those in the eastern Baltic. Small nations such as the Baltic States of Latvia and Estonia found themselves caught between the giants of Germany and Russia, on a route across which armies surged or retreated. Subjected to foreign domination and conquest since the Northern crusades in the twelfth century, these lands faced frequent devastation as Germans, Russians and Swedish colonisers asserted control of the territory, religion, government, culture and inhabitants. The Glass Wall features an extraordinary cast of characters – contemporary and historical, foreign and indigenous – who have lived and fought in the Baltic and made the atmosphere of what was often thought to be western Europe’s furthest redoubt. Too often it has seemed to be the destiny of this region to be the front line of other people’s wars. By telling the stories of warriors and victims, of philosophers and Baltic Barons, of poets and artists, of rebels and emperors, and others who lived through years of turmoil and violence, Max Egremont reveals a fascinating part of Europe, on a frontier whose limits may still be in doubt.'Fascinating . . . a rich, nuanced account of life on "the Baltic frontier"' - The Times'Excellent' - Daily Mail'Extraordinary' - Literary Review'Exemplary' - EconomistTrade ReviewFascinating . . . a rich, nuanced account of life on “the Baltic frontier” * The Times *Excellent . . . Boasting a fascinating cast of characters, it is a book which reveals a part of Europe with a complex history and an intriguing present -- Nick Rennison * Daily Mail *Extraordinary . . . a brilliant exploration of how the past infuses the landscape, buildings, art, literature, traditions, food, conversations and lived experience of the Baltic people * Literary Review *Confidently written, featuring reportage interwoven with his own and other writers’ literary and genealogical insights . . . The author also writes sympathetically about the trauma of the second world war . . . Exemplary, bringing together a grand historical narrative, local details, accounts of lives shaped and shattered, and architectural and literary insights * Economist *A restlessly enquiring guide . . . With rare narrative, Egremont offers an elegy for a forgotten land * Financial Times *
£11.69
Sage Publications Ltd Political Geography: Approaches, Concepts,
Book SynopsisThis innovative and thought-provoking text will teach you about the diverse and increasingly expansive sub-discipline of geopolitics. Divided into three sections, Political Geography draws on case studies from a diverse range of scales, contexts, and demographics, to introduce you to the key approaches, concepts, and futures of geopolitics. You will cover an extensive range of key topics in Political Geography, from feminist geopolitics to non-human worlds, and nationalism to peace and resistance. Throughout this first edition you will apply various theoretical lenses, utilise a wide range of examples both past and present, and draw on cutting edge scholarship to reinvigorate your understanding of important themes such as the state, borders, and territory. Based on the award-winning course at RHUL, Politcal Geography includes a variety of sites, spaces, materials, and images alongside ‘In the field’ tips, ideas for practical dissertation research, and tasks to facilitate active follow-on learning. Case studies, key terms, key questions and learning exercises, and annotated readings are included throughout every chapter to aid understanding and help you to engage and reflect on the content. Designed as a core text for undergraduates and an introductory text for postgraduates with an interest in Political Geography. Rachael Squire is lecturer in Human Geography at Royal Holloway University of London Anna Jackman is lecturer in Human Geography at University of Reading Trade ReviewSquire and Jackman have produced the fresh take on political geography for which undergraduates have been waiting. Political geography is more than ever in the news, and students looking for the conceptual tools to make sense of it need look no further: from decolonisation movements, to our relationships to technology and the digital, to the contestation of popular culture, this book has it all. And crucially, it has hope – something that can be in short supply these days. -- Jason DittmerThis impressive textbook makes important and complex ideas understandable and interesting. By presenting pressing topics of violence and inequality alongside hopeful resources for peaceful and sustainable futures it strikes the delicate balance between political urgency and pastoral sensitivity. -- Nick MegoranThis is the must-read textbook for any student studying Political Geography. Exploring how power, politics and space shape our complex world, this cutting-edge textbook takes geopolitics to unexpected and exciting places. Through an exciting range of case studies, Political Geography clearly guides students through the key themes, ideas and concepts that underpin the subdiscipline. -- Sarah HughesTable of ContentsChapter 1: Political Geography: Approaches, concepts, futures Chapter 2: Situating Political Geography: Tracing the emergence of the sub-discipline Chapter 3: Feminist geopolitics: Sites, spaces, scales Chapter 4:. Decolonising: Dismantling architectures of privilege Chapter 5: Non-human worlds: From objects to animals Chapter 6: Popular Geopolitics: Shaping geopolitical imaginations Chapter 7: States and territory: Heights, depths and thinking ‘volume’ Chapter 8: Borders: From state lines to the body Chapter 9: Nationalism: Flags, fears, and fictions Chapter 10: Mobilities: Geopolitics in motion Chapter 11: Violence: Practice and experience Chapter 12: Peace and resistance: Decentring war Chapter 13: Surveillance: Geographies of digital space and life Chapter 14: Crisis and hope: Thinking with geopolitical futures
£30.39
Biteback Publishing Losing Afghanistan: The Fall of Kabul and the End
Book SynopsisWhen Taliban forces took Kabul on 15 August 2021, it marked the end of the Western intervention that had begun nearly twenty years earlier with the US-led invasion. The fall of Afghanistan triggered a seismic shock in the West, where US President Joe Biden announced an end to America's involvement in conflicts overseas. In Afghanistan itself it produced terror for the future for those who had worked with and grown up under the coalition-supported administration. Now, with the country spiralling into economic collapse and famine, Losing Afghanistan is a plea for us to keep our gaze on the plight of the people of Afghanistan and to understand how action and inaction in the West shaped the fate of the nation. Why was Afghanistan lost? Can it be regained? And what happens next? Edited by international development expert Brian Brivati, this collection of twenty-one essays by analysts, politicians, soldiers, commentators and practitioners - interspersed with powerful eyewitness testimony from Afghan voices - explains what happened in Afghanistan and why, and what the future holds both for its people and for liberal intervention.Trade Review"Those who wonder how the international community failed so dramatically in Afghanistan need look no further. This selection of essays makes sombre reading. The differing points of view demonstrate the complexity of the challenge. Losing Afghanistan explores the arguments for and against intervention and highlights the difficulty of establishing unity of purpose and effort in such demanding circumstances. Above all, it poses a question: how can we in the West claim we know so much, yet demonstrate in Afghanistan that we understand so little?" - General (retd) Sir Jack Deverell OBE, former Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe "A wonderful book of insightful essays on Afghanistan from an outsider lens." - Ezatullah Adib, head of research at Integrity Watch Afghanistan and national country representative at the World Association for Public Opinion Research "The efforts to solve the immense and complex problems in Afghanistan may have often been misdirected, but failure was not guaranteed. Unfortunately, the peace negotiations, leading to the inappropriate haste of withdrawal, fatally undermined the population's confidence, catalysing the untimely collapse of the government. The strategic question posed by these brilliant essays is: how can the doctrine of liberal intervention be reframed to ensure the West intervenes overseas to manage future humanitarian calamities for reasons beyond just national security?" - Brigadier (retd) Justin Hedges OBE
£17.00
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd India and China at Odds in the Asian Century
Book SynopsisThe term ''Asian century'' was first coined by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1985 when discussing the Asian economic leap forward. From 1988, diplomats and the media also started using the term, further to the successful Deng Xiaoping-Rajiv Gandhi summit held that December in Beijing, for which Vappala Balachandran, under Prime Minister Gandhi''s express directions, led a small team of officials for more than a year of discreet ''off-line'' talks with key Chinese counterparts--separate from the official diplomatic engagement.The Chinese-Indian thaw, which lasted until 1998, prompted highly optimistic visions of a ''China-India Century of Cooperation'' enabling both powers to compete with the US and EU in terms of trade and military capacity. None of this happened, and instead the China-India relationship is highly rancorous, punctuated by trade spats and border skirmishing between the People''s Liberation Army and the Indian Army. New Delhi has gravitated towards the US in the hope of checkmating an assertive Beijing''s pursuit of global military and trade dominance. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of India and China''s comparative strategic capabilities, sharing many insights drawn from the author''s first-hand engagement with and research into the questions discussed.The opinions expressed in this book are personal and do not represent those of the Government of India.
£31.50
Icon Books Foreign Agents
Book SynopsisForeign Policy, Most Anticipated Books of 2024A stunning investigation and indictment of the elements in United States' foreign lobbying industry and the threat they pose to democracy. For years, one group of Americans has worked as foot-soldiers for the most authoritarian regimes around the planet. In the process, they've not only entrenched dictatorships and spread kleptocratic networks, but they've secretly guided U.S. policy without the rest of America even being aware. And now, journalist Casey Michel contends some of them have begun turning their sights on American democracy itself. These Americans are known as foreign lobbyists, and many of them spent years ushering dictatorships directly into the halls of Washington, all while laundering the reputations of the most heinous, repressive regimes in the process. These lobbyists include figures like Ivy Lee, the inventor of the public relations industry - a man who whitewashed Mussolini, opened doors to the Soviets, and advised
£21.25
Canongate Books The Edge of the Plain: How Borders Make and Break
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL NON-FICTION BOOK AWARD 2023Today, there are more borders in the world than ever before in human history. In this book James Crawford argues that our enduring obsession with borders has brought us to a crisis point: that we are entering the endgame of a process that began thousands of years ago, when we first started dividing up the earth.Beginning with the earliest known marker which denoted the end of one land and the beginning of the next, Crawford follows the story of borders into our fragile and uncertain future - towards the virtual frontiers of the internet, and the shifting geography of a world beset by climate change. In the process, he travels to many borders old and new: from a melting border high in the glacial landscapes of the Austrian-Italian Alps to the only place on land where Europe and Africa meet; from the artist Banksy's 'Walled Off Hotel' in the conflict-torn West Bank to the Sonoran Desert and the fault lines of the US/Mexico border.Combining history, travel and reportage, The Edge of the Plain explores how borders have grown and evolved to take control of our landscapes, our memories, our identities and our destinies. As nationalism, climate change, globalisation, technology and mass migration all collide with ever-hardening borders, something has to give. And Crawford asks, is it time to let go of the lines that divide us?Trade ReviewA richly essayistic account of how borders make and break our world, from Hadrian's Wall to China's Great Firewall * * Guardian * *The borders that mark our world are either ineffective, inhumane, or both. The Edge of the Plain asks us to envision alternatives * * New York Times * *Erudite and engaging . . . [A] fine book * * The Irish Times * *Why do lines on a map hold such power over humanity? Will we ever do away with them? These are some of the questions pondered - and answered - by James Crawford. Fascinating * * CNN * *Fascinating -- NIHAL ARTHANAYAKE * * BBC R5 * *[A] lyrical tour of borders in the past and the present . . . Crawford is at his best when surrendering to his propensity for reverie, an irrepressible, almost romantic sense of wonder that drives the reader from chapter to chapter * * Washington Post * *Crawford travels widely to make his points in a text reminiscent of those of Barry Lopez or Robert Macfarlane . . . A thoughtful consideration of the imaginary lines that hold meaning for so many * * Kirkus Reviews * *Confidently splices historical overview, travel writing and interviews. The book's alchemical ingredients are Crawford's sparkling prose and his photographer's eye for detail * * Business Post * *Crawford's essays, through vivid accounts of historical episodes and contemporary problems, illuminate how the world acquired its current shape . . . Eye-opening * * Literary Review * *[A] wide-reaching examination of the walls, barriers and "landscape interventions" that promote both freedom and independence, and enforce exile and humiliation . . . Borders are indeed a dirty affair, but as Crawford's excellent book demonstrates, they are also fascinating * * Geographical * *
£17.00
Canongate Books The Edge of the Plain: How Borders Make and Break
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL NON-FICTION BOOK AWARD 2023No matter where you turn, it seems that the taut lines of borders are vibrating to - or even calling - the tune of global eventsToday, there are more borders in the world than ever before in human history. Beginning with the earliest known example, Crawford travels to many borders old and new: from a melting glacial landscape to the conflict-torn West Bank and the fault-lines of the US/Mexico border. He follows the story of borders into our fragile and uncertain future - towards the virtual frontiers of the internet and the shifting geography of a world beset by climate change.As nationalism, climate change, globalisation, technology and mass migration all collide with ever-hardening borders, something has to give. And Crawford asks, is it time to let go of the lines that divide us?Trade ReviewA richly essayistic account of how borders make and break our world, from Hadrian's Wall to China's Great Firewall * * Guardian * *The borders that mark our world are either ineffective, inhumane, or both. The Edge of the Plain asks us to envision alternatives * * New York Times * *Erudite and engaging . . . [A] fine book * * The Irish Times * *Why do lines on a map hold such power over humanity? Will we ever do away with them? These are some of the questions pondered - and answered - by James Crawford. Fascinating * * CNN * *Fascinating -- NIHAL ARTHANAYAKE * * BBC R5 * *[A] lyrical tour of borders in the past and the present . . . Crawford is at his best when surrendering to his propensity for reverie, an irrepressible, almost romantic sense of wonder that drives the reader from chapter to chapter * * Washington Post * *Crawford travels widely to make his points in a text reminiscent of those of Barry Lopez or Robert Macfarlane . . . A thoughtful consideration of the imaginary lines that hold meaning for so many * * Kirkus Reviews * *Confidently splices historical overview, travel writing and interviews. The book's alchemical ingredients are Crawford's sparkling prose and his photographer's eye for detail * * Business Post * *Crawford's essays, through vivid accounts of historical episodes and contemporary problems, illuminate how the world acquired its current shape . . . Eye-opening * * Literary Review * *[A] wide-reaching examination of the walls, barriers and "landscape interventions" that promote both freedom and independence, and enforce exile and humiliation . . . Borders are indeed a dirty affair, but as Crawford's excellent book demonstrates, they are also fascinating * * Geographical * *
£11.69
Verso Books Erasing Palestine: Free Speech and Palestinian
Book SynopsisThe widespread adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-semitism and the internalisation of its norms has set in motion a simplistic definitional logic for dealing with social problems that has impoverished discussions of racism and prejudice more generally, across Britain and beyond. It has encouraged a focus on words over substance.Erasing Palestine tells the story of how this has happened, with a focus on internal politics within Britain over the course of the past several years. In order to do so, it tells a much longer story, about the history of antisemitism since the beginning of the twentieth century. This is also a story about Palestine, a chronicle of the erasure of the violence against the Palestinian people, and a story about free speech, and why it matters to Palestinian freedom.Trade ReviewA detailed, in-depth study that gets to the heart of one of the contemporary world's most contentious issues. A bold and expert expose of the real reasons behind the West's current antisemitism industry: the silencing of Palestinians and their erasure from history. -- Ghada Karmi, author of In Search of Fatima and ReturnNever have we been more in need of hearing the heroic voices of Palestinian activists and their supporters, still unwaveringly resisting the ongoing Israeli seizure of their land and daily control over their lives and movement. In this meticulously researched, moving and persuasive book, Rebecca Ruth Gould surveys the ever-mounting silencing of any support for justice for Palestinians with specious accusations of anti-Semitism against any and all of those joining the struggle to end Israel's brutal occupation, including against the author herself. -- Lynne Segal, author of Lean on MeWhat if an anti-racism is oppressive and threatens to wipe out a nation? Rebecca Gould's fine analysis patiently and lucidly shows how a currently prevalent understanding of antisemitism is threatening to do just this. First by misdescribing antisemitism; then by its use as a weapon to silence dissent; and finally to erase the idea of a suffering Palestinian people with a claim to statehood. It's a bold series of claims but not simply ideas as its based on painful personal experience. -- Tariq Modood, University of BristolIn her book Erasing Palestine Rebecca Ruth Gould offers a sharp and nuanced critique of the ways in which fighting anti semitism turns out to be a way to suppress freedom of speech. While speaking out of her own personal experience Gould brings a new perspective to the debate around defining antisemitism by focusing on its implications for the free speech of Palestinians and pro Palestinian voices. This book is a must read for those interested in understanding the ways in which human rights, anti semitism, and issues of Palestine-Israel are entangled together. -- Raef Zreik, fellow, Schell Center for Human Rights, Yale Law SchoolThis fine and courageous book takes seriously both the brutal 'erasure' of Palestine by the policies of a Zionist state and the phenomenon of antisemitism. At the heart of its theoretical claims is a refusal to approach antisemitism by seeking to define it, but rather to elaborate the social and economic conditions in which it grew. Definitions can be and have been manipulated to declare all criticisms of the Israeli state to be presumptively antisemitic, but a socio-economic genealogical approach, by contrast, allows us to confirm the most fundamental of human values--free speech-which is indispensable in the struggle to mobilize against the erasure of Palestine. It is a complex and ambitious argument and a deeply thoughtful work. -- Akeel Bilgrami, Sidney Morgenbesser Professor of Philosophy, Columbia UniversityIn this deeply personal and politically engaged book, Gould makes a challenging, provocative and radical case for promoting uncompromising free speech, an essential prerequisite in the quest for Palestinian freedom. Academically rooted in literature, language and law, she takes us on a fascinating intellectual journey, which includes experiencing cancel culture, commuting between home in the occupied Palestinian territories and an academic post in Jerusalem, discovering her suppressed Jewish heritage, and reaching a materialist understanding of antisemitism. -- Antony Lerman, author of Whatever Happened to Antisemitism?In ERASING PALESTINE, Rebecca Gould embarks on a fascinating personal and intellectual journey. On the one hand, this is undoubtedly the most comprehensive and in-depth critical analysis of the IHRA's definition of antisemitism and its impact on "erasing Palestine" and on curbing free speech . But on the other hand, Gould offers a self-reflective critical observation of herself and an alternative brilliant approach to the problem of antisemitism based on Jewish Marxist theorists. This materialist analysis is needed today more than ever. -- Amos Goldberg, fellow, Research Institute of Contemporary Jewry, The Hebrew University of JerusalemThis book brilliantly discusses how the physical erasure of Palestine passes through the suppression of the Palestinian narrative. It explains that freedom of expression and academic freedom remain paramount tools to enable solidarity with the quest for freedom and justice for the Palestinian people, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States where there is a coordinated effort to censor the voices of advocates for Palestinian human rights. -- Giovanni Fassina, Director of the European Legal Support CenterPart political-philosophy and part eloquent polemic, Rebecca Ruth Gould's book is a wide-ranging exploration of how today's social-justice battles-for Palestinian liberation, against antisemitism, against racism-are hindered by university bureaucrats as much as politicized liberal ideals. -- Lori Allen, author of A History of False Hope: Investigative Commissions in PalestineA bold and refreshing study of the debates surrounding Palestine and freedom of expression. -- A. Bustos * Washington Report on Middle East Affairs *
£14.24
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Myth Gap: What Happens When Evidence and
Book SynopsisWhy, with absolutely no idea what Brexit actually meant, did the UK vote for Brexit?Why, rather than vote for the best-qualified candidate ever to stand as US President, did voters opt for a reality TV star with no political experience?In both cases, the winning side promised change and offered hope. They told a story voters longed to hear. And in the absence of greater, more unifying narratives, then true or not, voters plumped for the best story available.Once upon a time our society was rich in stories. They brought us together and helped us to understand the world and ourselves. We called them myths. Today, we have a myth gap – a vacuum that Alex Evans argues powerfully and persuasively is both dangerous and an opportunity. In this time of global crisis and transition– mass migration, inequality, resource scarcity, and climate change - It is stories, rather than facts and pie-charts,that will animate us and bring us together. It is by finding new myths, those that speak to us of renewal and restoration, that we will navigate our way to a better future. Drawing on his first-hand experience as a political adviser within British government and at the United Nations, and examining the history of climate change campaigning and recent contests such as Brexit and the US presidential election, Alex Evans explores: *how tomorrow’s activists are using narratives for change, * how modern stories have been used and abused, * where we might find the right myths that will take us forwardTrade ReviewVery short, very sharp -- Bruce Clark * Economist *Pertinent… Evans is an attractive and persuasive writer … his book will strike many chords’ -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *An important book about the need to bring inspiring narratives back to the heart of progressive politics ... This has traction because it has truth, literally as well as metaphorically. * New Scientist *A really fascinating contribution to answering the question: how do we find new myths to live by. -- Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of CanterburyEveryone should read this. * Tim Smit *
£10.44
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd No Better Friend
Book Synopsis
£27.00
United Nations India and Japan
Book SynopsisThe Indo-Pacific has emerged as a new theatre of strategic and economic competition in the twenty-first century. With the rise of China and the decline of US influence in Asia, IndiaJapan relations and foreign policies have also been undergoing a significant transformation. This volume critically assesses IndiaJapan relations with a particular focus on the growing power shift in the Indo-Pacific region. It brings together a diverse group of scholars and analysts from both countries who examine aspects of bilateral relations, partnerships at the regional level, obstacles in the way of fully cementing these ties, and the concrete policies that both countries can undertake for a comprehensive development of IndiaJapan relations. In two distinct parts, the volume presents both Indian and Japanese perspectives The first part explores how Japan has assumed key importance in India's Act East Policy, which appears to converge with Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific', as they share the goal of
£49.88
HarperCollins Publishers Conflict
Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A rigorous and thoughtful study of what has happened on battlefields over the past eight decades' THE TIMESA hugely important book elegantly written and persuasively argued' DAILY TELEGRAPH** FULLY UPDATED TO INCLUDE NEW MATERIAL ON THE ISRAEL/GAZA CONFLICT **Conflict is both a sweeping history of the evolution of warfare up to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, and a penetrating analysis of what we must learn from the past, and anticipate in the future, in order to navigate an increasingly perilous world.In this deep and incisive study, General David Petraeus, the former CIA director who commanded the US-led coalitions in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the prize-winning historian Andrew Roberts, explore over seventy years of conflict, drawing significant lessons and insights from their fresh analysis of the past. Petraeus and Roberts show how often critical mistakes have been repeated time and again, and explore the challenge, for statesmen and generals alike, Trade Review‘How has warfare evolved in the eight decades since 1945? And what might it look like in the future? These are the questions posed by the authorial dream team of David Petraeus and Andrew Roberts: respectively a distinguished former US general and spy chief, and one of Britain’s finest military historians. This brilliant history shows how the wars of the future may go. Elegantly written and persuasively argued, Conflict is a hugely important book that explains why wars are still being fought and lost, what we can learn from them, and how we can protect ourselves from malign actors in the future’ DAILY TELEGRAPH, FIVE-STAR REVIEW ‘Charts just about every war fought in Europe, the Middle East and Asia since the defeat of the Nazis… [a] compendious narrative… has all the more force in light of Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza’ FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Timely, engaging and instructive, Conflict is the best one-volume study of conventional warfare in the nuclear age. It sets a new benchmark in understanding modern war’ WALL STREET JOURNAL ‘The pairing of Roberts with Petraeus is an engaging choice… They spend little time imagining a world without war, or even a world with less war. Their book – like Clausewitz’s canonical text – is a primer for today’s strategists, brimming with lessons about leadership, counter-insurgency, and intelligence. It’s a guide to effectively prepare for and win wars of the future, to achieve perpetual peace through perpetual strength’ NEW STATESMAN 'It is no exaggeration to call this book exceptional in the sense that it applies the lessons learned by the two authors over two lifetimes of expertise as practitioners and academics of war' NEWSMAX
£19.50
Prometheus Books Battlefield Cyber: How China and Russia are
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Influence operations." Once an exotic term from spy novels, remote from our daily lives, today it's a reality that touches all of us through our networked devices. Russia and China have gotten entry to our homes and to our minds, seeking to influence and disorient us. McLaughlin and Holstein are Paul Reveres for the 21st century, shouting the alarm and explaining how citizens, IT firms, and government must rebalance relations with China to protect our democratic system.Andrew J. Nathan, one of America’s top China-watchers and Class of 1919 Professor of Political Science, Columbia UniversityMcLaughlin and Holstein set out an immensely readable and sweeping view of how cyber vulnerabilities affect every aspect of our lives. With up-to-date examples from today’s headlines, the authors paint an alarming picture of how Russia and China have used the digital revolution to exploit our open democracy, with cyber theft of industrial secrets and personal data, and the spreading of pernicious disinformation on social media. Anyone who wants to understand the risks we face in the digital world, and to consider a range of excellent and thoughtful recommendations on how we can mitigate those risks, would enjoy reading Battlefield: Cyber.Glenn Gerstell, former General Counsel, National Security AgencyDirect but nuanced, terrifying yet inspiring, a page-turner of a narrative built on robust empirics: Battlefield: Cyber is the primer, and call to arms, that everyone needs for today's war. Michael McLaughlin and William Holstein paint, in diligently researched yet thrilling brushstrokes, both the obvious battle taking place under our very noses and the subtler one changing how battles are fought. In the process, they offer a preternaturally clear portrait of China's strategy -- and of U.S. foibles. Best of all, they provide hope for a path forward.Emily de la Bruyère, co-founder, Horizon AdvisoryWhen the history of America’s current era is written, the cybersecurity war among and between the United States, Russia and China, will play a pivotal role in understanding our socio-economic, politico-military history, and our political economy. Historians will ask: “What did America know about the threats of cyber-attacks? When did we know it? And, What did we do about it?” Mike McLaughlin and Bill Holstein do not pull punches. Battlefield: Cyber provides Americans today and historians tomorrow a thoughtful, well-investigated and documented insight into this cyber war, which may eclipse The Cold War in historical significance. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the future of democracy and the Great American Experiment. This book begs the question: “What is to Be Done?”Steven Soble, Chief Executive Officer, Assured EnterprisesPertinent exploration of how cyberspace combat has become a dangerous reality.“Make no mistake, America’s adversaries are fully engaged in a cyber war,” write the authors, “and it is raging all around us.” This initially sounds like hyperbole, but as the narrative unfolds, it begins to seem like an understatement. McLaughlin is a former senior adviser for U.S. Cyber Command, where he was responsible for the coordination of Department of Defense counterintelligence operations in cyberspace, and Holstein is a journalist who specializes in technology and China. The authors make a strong argument that Russia and China are winning an insidious digital war against the U.S. They explain how hacks, malware, and system penetrations work, dissecting some of the major incidents. Russia is mainly concerned with disruption, and its government has coopted hackers specializing in ransomware attacks into their operations. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was preceded by cyberattacks on the country’s communications systems and infrastructure, which were remarkably effective. China is more interested in colonizing American systems to insert malware, steal intellectual property, and gather personal data. Both countries have penetrated social media platforms and have established a covert presence in cloud systems. McLaughlin and Holstein propose moves to improve digital security in the U.S., looking to Taiwan as a model for cooperation between government and the private sector. A Department of Digital Services could provide coordination and support as well as pushing tech companies to move their operations out of China. Corporations have to be willing to share information and protective technology, and there must be a concerted effort to remove embedded malware from systems in companies, government agencies, and the military. McLaughlin and Holstein present a convincing case in clear language, and the result is a book that is likely to keep you awake at night.A disturbing, well-rendered study that reveals the extent of the digital struggle and charts a way forward for the U.S. - Kirkus (Starred Review)
£17.99
Little, Brown Book Group Fire and Fury
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 *
£12.34
Oxford University Press Inc Collisions
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.
£22.99
HarperCollins Publishers Overreach
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
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Siege
Book SynopsisMichael Wolff, author of the bombshell bestseller Fire and Fury, once again takes us inside the Trump presidency to reveal a White House under siege.Trade ReviewMichael Wolff's new book, Siege, is a deliciously catty look inside the White House, full of wicked anecdotes and gossipy gold. It's like sitting in a hairdresser's listening to a fabulously indiscreet conversation beside you. It's The Kardashians: White House edition -- Harriet Alexander * Telegraph *A mordant, readable tell-all designed to show how Trump, simply by being Trump, has made himself the perfect wrecking ball, blasting holes through an array of institutions -- Jennifer Szalai * New York Times *Michael Wolff is back and not with a whimper. The latest instalment of his Trump chronicles picks up where Fire and Fury ended -- Lloyd Green * Guardian *Bannon's frequently shrewd observations make it clear why Wolff finds him irresistible. The author is mostly interested in Trump's psychology. He is adept at documenting the president's lunacy, and Bannon is frequently an able fellow shrink * Washington Post *This book confirms that Trump should never have been allowed to hold power in the first place -- Max Liu * The i *Once again, the dirt is abundant. Donald Trump insults everyone in his orbit, repeatedly, viciously, and - always privately - they return the favor ... Siege is overflowing with such titillating material, which is sure to make it another tour de force for the Trump resistance * Vanity Fair *Utterly gripping * GQ *Rich in psychological insights -- Peter Conrad * Observer *Michael Wolff has unearthed a mass of damning material about Donald Trump . . . Siege is filled with delicious gossip -- Sarah Baxter * Sunday Times *Readers are rewarded with more eye-popping examples of [Trump's] crudeness and vulgarity * Daily Mail *Hilarious and frightening, and often reads like a Hollywood gossip column * Financial Times *In Fire and Fury Michael Wolff wrote an extraordinarily gossipy account of President Trump's first year in the White House. Siege covers year two of presidential dysfunction and it's just as alarming, weird, toe-curling and funny -- Books of the Year * The Times *
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd Africas Long Road Since Independence
Book Synopsis''A superb book...genuinely innovative'' Jack Spence OBE, King''s College LondonOver the last half century, sub-Saharan Africa has not had one history, but many. Histories that have intertwined, converged and diverged. They have involved a continuing process of decolonization and state-building, conflict, economic problems but also progress and the perpetual interplay of structure and agency. This new view of those histories looks in particular at the relationship between territorial, economic, political and societal structures and human agency in the complex and sometimes confusing development of an independent Africa. The story starts well before the granting of independence to Ghana in 1957, but the book also looks at Africa in the closing decades of the old millennium and opening ones of the new. This is a book, too, about the history of the peoples of Africa and their struggle for economic development against the global economic straitjacket into which they were strapped by colonial rule and decolonisation. The importance of imposed or inherited structures, whether the global capitalist system, of which Africa is a subordinate part, or the artificial and often inappropriate state borders and political systems is discussed in the light of the exercise of agency by African peoples, political movements and leaders.Trade ReviewThis unusually accessible study of Africa's many histories since 1970 owes its distinctiveness to the author's career...a thoughtful, passionate account by a senior BBC journalist who spent three decades working on and in Africa. His intimacy with places and people give the book a grittiness that library research never provides. -- Richard Rathbone, Professor of African History, SOASA superb book...genuinely innovative, demonstrating a fine understanding of the role of structure and agency in the continent's 'many histories'. The argument will appeal to an audience seeking a convincing and well-researched account. -- Jack Spence, OBE, Professor of Diplomacy, King's College London
£12.34
Oxford University Press Inc Moral and Immoral Whiteness in Immigration
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMoral and Immoral Whiteness in Immigration Politics examines a policy issue that has been at the heart of US politics for centuries-that of immigration. Matos offers an innovative and fresh approach to understanding immigration attitudes in the US by looking at it through the lens of morality and whiteness. She then tests her theory with a series of empirical tests that take advantage of public opinion survey data as well as the roll call votes of elected officials. A must-read for scholars of political science, sociology, American studies, and public policy. * Marisa Abrajano, Professor of Political Science, University of California, San Diego *This is a timely, thoughtful, and wide-ranging book. Drawing on survey data, roll call votes, and historical analysis, Yalidy Matos offers fresh insights about the politics of immigration and whiteness in the United States. A must-read for students of public opinion, immigration, and racial and ethnic politics. * Daniel Tichenor, Philip H. Knight Chair of Political Science, University of Oregon *This book offers a theoretical framework for understanding white political attitudes and behavior...Highly recommended. Graduate students and faculty. * Choice *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. Moral and Immoral Whiteness in Immigration Politics 2. Immigration Attitudes as A Racialized "Morality of Exclusion" 3. How Whiteness Structures Restrictive Immigration Attitudes 4. White Racial Privilege and Progressive Immigration Attitudes 5. Enacting Whiteness Through State-Level Immigration Laws 6. Conclusion: In Need of a Moral Reckoning Appendix A: Survey Wording Questionnaire Appendix B: Online Appendix Information Notes Bibliography Index
£18.99
The History Press Ltd Fight for Falklands Freedom
Book SynopsisA unique eyewitness contribution to history on the Falklands conflict and background
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) My Struggle for Syria
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£23.74
Oneworld Publications Them and Us
Book SynopsisImmigration is good for society and here''s the data that proves it.Winner of the Diversity, Inclusion and Equality Award at the Business Book Awards 2021 ‘Underpinned by scholarship...entertaining…Legrain’s book fizzes with practical ideas.’ The Economist ‘The beauty of diversity is that innovation often comes about by serendipity. As Scott Page observed, one day in 1904, at the World Fair in St Louis, the ice cream vendor ran out of cups. Ernest Hami, a Syrian waffle vendor in the booth next door, rolled up some waffles to make cones - and the rest is history.’ Filled with data, anecdotes and optimism, Them and Us is an endorsement of cultural differences at a time of acute national introspection. By every measure, from productivity to new perspectives, immigrants bring something beneficial to society. If patriotism means wanting the best for your country, we should be welcomiTrade Review‘Underpinned by scholarship…entertaining… Legrain’s book fizzes with practical ideas.’ * The Economist *
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC What Climate Justice Means And Why We Should Care
Book SynopsisWe owe it to our fellow humans and other species to save them from the catastrophic harm caused by climate change.Philosopher Elizabeth Cripps approaches climate justice not just as an abstract idea but as something that should motivate us all. Using clear reasoning and poignant examples, starting from irrefutable science and uncontroversial moral rules, she explores our obligations to each other and to the non-human world, unravels the legacy of colonialism and entrenched racism, and makes the case for immediate action.The second half of the book looks at solutions. Who should pay the bill for climate action? Who must have a say? How can we hold multinational companies, organisations even nations to account? Cripps argues powerfully that climate justice goes beyond political polarization. Climate activism is a moral duty, not a political choice.Trade ReviewInsightful and timely…'climate justice' is essential if we are to deal with climate change. Compelling. -- Professor Mark Maslin, author of How to Save Our PlanetThe iron law of global warming is: the less you did to cause it, the sooner and harder you suffer its effects. As this book makes clear, that raises very deep questions about justice, which we will be grappling with for the forseeable future. If you read this, you'll have a good headstart on a crucial debate. -- Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?An essential primer. Elizabeth Cripps deftly explains the complexity of wicked problems without ever losing sight of the fundamental truth that, before it is a technical or political issue, climate injustice is a moral one. -- Professor David Farrier, Chair in Literature and the Environment, University of EdinburghThis book is a short and direct conversation with a philosopher carefully thinking through our duties now toward other people given the scary changes we all may face. While it may be painful reading at times, you will gain insights not available in any other book about climate change. The subtle analysis does not stifle the passion, and the deep feeling does not cloud the arguments. A moving philosophical plea for immediate radical action with the reasons distilled to their essence. If you wonder where to begin to tackle the worsening climate, start here. -- Professor Henry Shue, Merton College, Oxford. Senior Research Fellow, Centre for International Studies, DPIRWe live in a world increasingly impacted not only by climate change, but also its unjust impacts on both human and nonhuman communities. Elizabeth Cripps offers a lucid, comprehensive, and pertinent overview of a range of ideas and realities of climate justice in all its complexity. She offers the crucial argument that, in everyday political and personal practice, climate change is a choice to violate the rights of the most vulnerable. As inequitable as climate change can be, Cripps insists that it is possible, and straightforward, to choose climate justice instead. -- David Schlosberg, Professor of Environmental Politics and Director, Sydney Environment Institute, University of SydneyThe concept of climate justice is increasingly being invoked. But what is climate justice? In her brilliant book, Elizabeth Cripps gives us a definitive answer. What Climate Justice Means shows why climate change is a matter of justice, who bears responsibility for this and what citizens and governments ought to do. It vividly conveys the realities of climate injustices and makes a compelling moral case for action. -- Simon Caney, Professor of Political Theory, University of Warwick… impassioned treatise from philosopher Cripps … Sincere and substantial, this offers bountiful insight into the movement for climate justice. * Publishers Weekly *There are complex moral quandaries in What Climate Justice Means, but it’s written for everybody. And this is not philosophy as some kind of intellectual luxury. It’s a matter of life and death, of how we live with integrity in the face of a global catastrophe which we did not create, but in which we are complicit. -- Jeremy Williams * The Earthbound Report *... serves to stiffen the moral sinew. * Big Issue in the North *[Cripps] presents clear and compelling evidence of the burden borne by disadvantaged populations, maintaining that climate change is, above all, “about privilege.” * Science Magazine *[Cripps] makes you care about climate change’s most vulnerable victims and in the process offers advice on how we all can help … Cripps argues powerfully that climate justice goes beyond political polarization. Climate activism is a moral duty, not a political choice. * The Revelator *Cripps successfully argues her central point: Climate policies won't succeed if climate justice isn't at their forefront … Cripps' argument, a timely update to former President of Ireland Mary Robinson's earlier linking together of climate justice and human rights … makes fine, inspirational reading. * NPR.com *In this short, accessible book, Elizabeth Cripps makes the moral case for action on climate change …Cripps demonstrates that climate justice goes beyond politics—climate change is a moral duty, not a political choice. * Porchlight Books *Cripps seemingly endeavors to compose a compelling moral philosophy, examining core issues concerning climate change. Her effort...yields engaging contemplation of the topic. * Hattiesburg America *Cripps is pragmatic enough to recognize this will probably not happen until “inclusive activism” puts pressure on the system. The book is an interesting read in that it looks at climate change and responses to it from a philosophical and moral approach backed up with concrete examples from a global viewpoint. * Bowling Green Daily News *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: Basic Justice, Incontrovertible Science Chapter Two: The Same Storm, But Not The Same Boat Chapter Three: Beyond Humans Chapter Four: What Climate Justice Looks Like Chapter Five: The Least Unjust Option Chapter Six: But What Can I Do? Conclusion: Key Points Further Reading Bibliography Acknowledgements Index
£12.34
Orion Publishing Co The Future Is Asian
Book SynopsisFive billion people, two-thirds of the world''s mega-cities, one-third of the global economy, two-thirds of global economic growth, thirty of the Fortune 100, six of the ten largest banks, eight of the ten largest armies, five nuclear powers, massive technological innovation, the newest crop of top-ranked universities. Asia is also the world''s most ethnically, linguistically and culturally diverse region of the planet, eluding any remotely meaningful generalization beyond the geographic label itself. Even for Asians, Asia is dizzying to navigate.Whether you gauge by demography, geography, economy or any other metric, Asia is already the present - and it is certainly the future. It is for this reason that we cannot afford to continue to get Asia so wrong. The Future Is Asian accurately shows Asia from the inside-out, telling the story of how this mega-region is coming together and reshaping the entire planet in the process.Trade Review'In an authoritative book which may well become a standard reference . . . Parag Khanna casts the net wider to deliver a compelling argument that Asia - rather than merely China - is the current and future lodestar for the global economy. Of Asia's nearly 5bn people, 3.5bn are not Chinese' -- James Kynge * Financial Times *'An upbeat examination of a changing "Greater Asia" . . . Eurasia's future is likely to be more ductile than fixed and hegemonic. In this new world order, actions still lead to reactions' * The Economist *'The Future Is Asian offers a valuable and thoroughly researched analysis' * Wall Street Journal *'The Future Is Asian challenges the way westerners view the continent . . . As Khanna lays out his argument and vision for the Asia's future role in global geopolitics, it is almost impossible not to be persuaded by his school of thought' * City A.M. *'A well-written, important book' * Australian Financial Review *'Offers a comprehensive worldview from an Asian perspective . . . Khanna is thorough and clear, offering abundant food for thought' * Kirkus *'Khanna illuminates the global tectonic shift to Asia - but argues provocatively that a rising China will be entangled in a multi-polar region' -- Graham T. Allison, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School, and author of Destined for War'The twenty-first century is the century of Asia. I suggest you read this book even if you are already aware!' -- Jim Rogers, International Investor and author of Street Smarts: Adventures on the Road and in the Markets'Understanding the global economy in this century means above all understanding that it is likely to be an Asian century. Parag Khanna's important book provides a rich perspective going well beyond the economic statistics. Everyone concerned with the future of the global economy should consider its arguments' -- Lawrence H. Summers, Former Secretary of the Treasury, Former Director of the National Economic Council, and Harvard President Emeritus'When our grandchildren want to understand how, in the early twenty-first century, Asia came to occupy - or rather, reoccupy - the cultural and economic centre of the planet, they will read the magisterial work of Parag Khanna' -- Paul Salopek, National Geographic Fellow'Parag Khanna's magisterial work weaves a powerful story where business, technology, globalization and geopolitics are intertwined. This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the role of Asia in shaping the future of the world' -- Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of Infosys, Founding Chairman pf Aadhaar (UIDAI)'Asia is vast, bustling and rapidly becoming an integrated, world-dominating region, according to this sprawling geo-economic study . . . Khanna's wealth of statistics, deep knowledge, and lucid prose make for a stimulating overview of the rising colossus' * Publishers Weekly *'In The Future is Asian, Parag Khanna paints a vibrant and multi-faceted picture of the economic, political and cultural dynamics shaping Asia and the world more broadly. This is a thought-provoking work that deserves to be read by practitioners, scholars and general readers alike' -- The Hon. Kevin Rudd, 26th Prime Minister of Australia and President, Asia Society Policy Institute'For most of recorded history, Asia was the economic, technological and cultural centre of the world. From that perspective, the last 500 years of Western dominance almost appear an aberration. This book imagines what reprising the lead role would look like for Asia, and what it means for the rest of the world. An indispensable book for the "Asian century"' -- Tony Fernandes, Founder and CEO, Air Asia
£10.44
Manchester University Press The Ideal River: How Control of Nature Shaped the
Book SynopsisEnvironmental politics has traditionally been a peripheral concern for international relations theory, but increasing alarm over global environmental challenges has elevated international society’s relationship with the natural world into the theoretical limelight. IR theory’s engagement with environmental politics, however, has largely focused on interstate cooperation in the late twentieth century, with less attention paid to how the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century quest to tame nature came to shape the modern international order.The ideal river examines nineteenth-century efforts to establish international commissions on three transboundary rivers – the Rhine, the Danube, and the Congo. It charts how the Enlightenment ambition to tame the natural world, and human nature itself, became an international standard for rational and civilized authority and informed our geographical imagination of the international. This relationship of domination over nature shaped three core IR concepts central to the emergence of early international order: the territorial sovereign state; imperial hierarchies; and international organizations. The book contributes to environmental politics and international relations by highlighting how the relationship between society and nature is not a peripheral concern, but one at the heart of international politics.Trade ReviewWinner of the BISA 2023 L.H.M. Ling Outstanding First Book Prize2023 Sussex International Theory Book Prize (Honourable Mention)'This is a brilliant book: erudite, thoughtful, beautifully written, richly analysed and theoretically sophisticated. It makes us look again at the way control of rivers – as nature, as resource, as colonial or territorial space – has shaped so many international doctrines, institutions and contestations.'Laleh Khalili, author of Sinews of War and Trade'In sum, Yao's book makes a strong case for paying attention to and leveraging historical material in IR. This is a crucial contribution to the literature, which should inspire others to extend this framework to the study of other environmental agreements or organizations. The book will be of great interest to several research and policy audiences. Particularly, scholars within hydro-politics will find this book useful as it showcases important milestones towards the establishment of river basin governance. Here, the book persuasively demonstrates how environmental politics can enrich our understanding of international organizations more generally.'Stefan Döring, International Affairs -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: The ideal river1 The taming of nature, legitimate authority, and international order2 Taming the internal highway: Constructing the Rhine3 The 1815 Congress of Vienna and the oldest continuous interstate institution4 Disciplining the connecting river: Constructing the Danube5 The 1856 Treaty of Paris and the first international organization6 Civilizing the imperial river: Constructing the Congo7 The 1885 Berlin Conference and the international organization that never was8 History is a river: The taming of nature into the twenty-first centuryConclusion: The strong brown god of the AnthropoceneBibliographyIndex
£76.50
Manchester University Press The Ideal River: How Control of Nature Shaped the
Book SynopsisThe environment has traditionally been a marginal concern in international relations, but the climate crisis has highlighted the relationship between society and the natural world. In The ideal river, Joanne Yao offers a remarkable account of how nineteenth-century efforts to tame nature shaped our modern international order. Examining three historic attempts to establish international commissions on boundary-crossing rivers – the Rhine, the Danube and the Congo – she reveals how the Enlightenment ambition to subdue the natural world has formed our geographical imagination of the international. This idea of domination over nature shaped three concepts central to the emergence of early international order: the territorial sovereign state, imperial hierarchies and international organisations. As The ideal river shows, the relationship between society and nature is at the heart of international politics.Trade Review'This is a brilliant book: erudite, thoughtful, beautifully written, richly analysed and theoretically sophisticated. It makes us look again at the way control of rivers – as nature, as resource, as colonial or territorial space – has shaped so many international doctrines, institutions and contestations.'Laleh Khalili, author of Sinews of War and Trade'The book persuasively demonstrates how environmental politics can enrich our understanding of international organisations more generally.'Stefan Döring, International Affairs -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: the ideal river1 The taming of nature, legitimate authority and international order2 Taming the internal highway: constructing the Rhine3 The 1815 Congress of Vienna and the oldest continuous interstate institution4 Disciplining the connecting river: constructing the Danube5 The 1856 Treaty of Paris and the first international organisation6 Civilising the imperial river: constructing the Congo7 The 1885 Berlin Conference and the international organisation that never was8 History is a river: the taming of nature into the twenty-first centuryConclusion: the strong brown god of the AnthropoceneIndex
£23.84
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Selected Works of Edward Said: 1966–2006
Book SynopsisA definitive volume expanded and updated to do justice to the four decade career of one of the most important cultural and intellectual thinkers of the 21st century The renowned literary and cultural critic and political thinker Edward Said was one of our era's most provocative and important thinkers. This comprehensive collection of his work, expanded from the earlier Edward Said Reader, now draws from across his entire four-decade career, including his posthumously published books, making it a definitive one-volume source. The Selected Works includes key sections from all of Said's books, including his groundbreaking Orientalism; his memoir, Out of Place; and his last book, On Late Style. Whether writing of Zionism or Palestinian self-determination, Jane Austen or Yeats, or of music or the media, Said's uncompromising intelligence casts urgent light on every subject he undertakes. The Selected Works is a joy for the general reader and an indispensable resource for scholars in the many fields that his work has influenced and transformed.Trade ReviewA writer who helps us to understand who we are and what we must do if we are to aspire to be moral agents, not servants of power -- Noam ChomskyWhat Said stands for - critical intelligence, high art and the preservation of the language - must be at the centre of our lives -- Hanif KureishiI was dependent on his voice ... A necessary voice as well as an eloquent and powerful one. Particularly now, it seems critical that he’d weigh in on things, critique things. He’s sui generis -- Toni MorrisonEdward Said was an intellectual with a passion for justice, and he allowed nothing to deter him in its pursuit -- Archbishop Desmond TutuThe great public intellectual in late twentieth century United States of America -- Cornel WestSaid challenges and stimulates our thinking in every area * Washington Post *Beautifully patterned and passionately argued * New Statesman *Edward Said belongs to that small band of American intellectuals who talk sense (and write beautifully) about the outside world * Guardian *Stimulating, elegant and pugnacious * Observer *No-one studying the relations between the West and the decolonizing world can ignore Mr. Said's work * New York Times Book Review *Said is a brilliant and unique amalgam of scholar, aesthete and political activist, an inspiring role model for a younger generation seeking their cultural identity -- Camille PagliaMagnificently eloquent, lucid, judicious * Guardian *Edward Said helps us to understand who we are and what we must do if we are to aspire to be moral agents, not servants of power -- Noam ChomskyMagisterial -- Terry EagletonOne of the leading thinkers of the age * New York Observer *Probably the best-known intellectual in the world -- Tony Judt * The Nation *
£15.29
Pan Macmillan Revolt: The Worldwide Uprising Against
Book Synopsis‘A well-written and thought-provoking account of the current crisis of globalization. Not everyone will agree with Eyal’s interpretation, but few will remain indifferent.’ – Yuval Noah Harari, author of SapiensRevolt is an eloquent and provocative challenge to the prevailing wisdom about the rise of nationalism and populism today. With a vibrant and informed voice, Nadav Eyal illustrates how modern globalization is unsustainable. He contends that the collapse of the current world order is not so much about the imbalance between technological advances and social progress, or the breakdown of liberal democracy, as it is about a passion to upend and destroy power structures that have become hollow, corrupt, or simply unresponsive to urgent needs. Eyal illuminates the forces both benign and malignant that have so rapidly transformed our economic, political, and cultural realities, shedding light not only on the globalized revolution that has come to define our time but also on the counterrevolution waged by those who globalization has marginalized and exploited.With a mixture of journalistic narrative, penetrating vignettes, and original analysis, Revolt shows that within the mainstream the left and right have much in common. Teasing out the connections among distressed Pennsylvania coal miners, anarchists in communes on the outskirts of Athens, neo-Nazis in Germany, and Syrian refugee families whom he accompanied from the shores of Greece to their destination in Germany, Eyal shows how their stories feed our current state of unrest. More than just an analysis of the present, though, Revolt also takes a hard look at lessons from the past, from the Opium Wars in China to colonialist Haiti to the Marshall Plan. With these historical ties, Eyal shows that the roots of revolt have always been deep and strong. The current uprisings are no passing phenomenon – revolt is the new status quo.Trade ReviewWe need to redefine the terms of our interdependence - to minimize the dangers, spread the benefits more broadly, and build a global community capable of confronting our collective challenges together. -- President Bill ClintonA well-written and thought-provoking account of the current crisis of globalization. Not everyone will agree with Eyal's interpretation, but few will remain indifferent. -- Yuval Noah Harari
£10.44
Ebury Publishing Border Wars: The conflicts that will define our
Book SynopsisHow are borders built in the modern world? What does Brexit mean for Ireland's border? And what would happen if Elon Musk declared himself president of the Moon?In Border Wars, Professor Klaus Dodds takes us on a journey into the geopolitical conflict of tomorrow in an eye-opening tour of the world's best-known, most dangerous and most unexpected border conflicts from the Gaza Strip to the space race.Along the way, we'll discover just what border truly mean in the modern world: how are they built; what do they mean for citizens and governments; how do they help understand our political past and, most importantly, our diplomatic future?
£12.34
Bristol University Press Making War Safe for Capitalism
£76.50
WW Norton & Co Cold Peace: Avoiding the New Cold War
Book SynopsisWith a historian’s eye and a theorist’s ingenuity, Michael Doyle, whose writings on liberal peace have revolutionised modern statesmanship, cogently assesses the tectonic shifts threatening a global order that has held for more than seventy years. As tensions among China, Russia and the US escalate perilously towards a new Cold War, Doyle introduces a radical paradigm that will facilitate the international cooperation necessary to avert the global threats of our time. Combining dramatic history with trenchant analysis and landmark theory, Doyle explores the impacts of cyberwarfare, foreign election meddling and the unprecedented schism of modern politics on American foreign policy. He demonstrates that there can be no success in addressing climate change without China’s cooperation, nor any hope of averting nuclear catastrophe without Russia’s. In the tradition of Gaddis’ The Cold War and Clark’s The Sleepwalkers, Cold Peace provides one of the most necessary analyses of global power in decades.Trade Review"A thought-provoking contribution at a moment when compromise is unfashionable and tensions are rising dangerously. " -- Gideon Rachman - Financial Times
£22.79
Gibson Square Books Ltd Blowing up Ukraine: The Return of Russian Terror
Book SynopsisRussia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine came from nowhere...? Felshtinsky and Stanchev's gripping history of Putin's attempts to take Ukraine reveals his first deadly attack came as early as 1999. As early as 2015 the authors predicted that the Russian invasion was a matter the Russian army's 6-year planning cycle and would happen in 2021 (not knowing the pandemic would happen). They argue how Putin must be resisted in order to avoid a potential nuclear conflict that could drag the world into a global war. An authoritative must-read to understand the causes of the crisis and what to do when.Trade Review‘Seizing Ukraine remains the main goal of Putin. Unfortunately, these words, much like the rest of the book, will prove prophetic.’ OLEG KALUGIN, Former KGB General and Head of Counter-Espionage; ‘Historians are blessed with numerous virtues, but bravery is rarely among them. Still, living in a modern world requires fundamental reconsideration of all of the conventional notions regarding Russia and Ukraine, United States and Europe. This book by two brave and scrupulous historians will undoubtedly help the reader to comprehend the present, as well as to live in the future.’ ALEXANDER ETKIND, Professor of History, European University Institute, FlorenceTable of ContentsUkraine: The First Battle of World War III? Introduction: Time will Tell 1 A Thousand Year Wait 2 Dawdling in Europe 3 Georgiy Gongadze's Assassination 4 The Poisoning of Viktor Yushchenko 5 The Orange Revolution 6 The Sfinx 7 A Burglar as President 8 The Turning Point, Minsk 9 EuroMaidan 10 The Mysterious Return of the "Banderites" 11 Civil War 12 Change of Power or Oligarchs? 13 The Invasions of Crimea 14 False "Russian Spring" 15 "Substitution of Ideas" as a Dance to War 16 Do Russians Want War? Conclusions Appendix - Vladimir Putin: "The Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians" Endnotes Index
£18.00
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd Erdogan's War: A Strongman's Struggle at Home and
Book SynopsisRecep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s pugnacious president, is now the country’s longest-serving leader. On his way to the top, he has fought many wars. This book tells the story of those battles against domestic enemies through the lens of the Syrian conflict, which has become part and parcel of Erdoğan’s fight to remain in power. Turkey expert Gonul Tol traces Erdogan’s ideological evolution from a conservative democrat to an Islamist and a Turkish nationalist, and explores how this progression has come to shape his Syria policy, changing the course of the war. She paints a vivid picture of the president’s constantly shifting strategy to consolidate his rule, showing that these shifts have transformed Turkey’s role in post-uprising Syria from an advocate of democracy, to a power fanning the flames of civil war, to an occupier. From the first days of Erdogan’s rule through the failed coup against him, via the Kurdish peace process, the Arab uprisings and the refugee crisis, this compelling, authoritative book tells the story of one man’s quest to remain in power—tying together the fates of two countries, and changing them both forever.Trade Review'[A] fascinating book.' -- The New York Review of Books'[Gönül Tol's] detailed analysis exploring Erdoğan's shifting foreign policy strategy in Syria gives us a nuanced understanding of a complex proxy conflict, which has many different international actors, with competing interests and ideologies.' -- Irish Independent'Brilliant' -- New Lines Magazine'Provide[s] a concise and clever portrait of Türkiye in the last two decades.' -- Informed Comment'This astute book masterfully explains how Erdogan's plans to exploit the Syrian war for his own ends have perverted Turkish domestic politics, plunged his country further into authoritarianism, and changed the course of history. A fascinating, instructive and ultimately powerful cautionary tale.' -- Fiona Hill, former Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President, and author of 'There Is Nothing for You Here''Superbly narrates the tragic intersection of Syria's civil war and Turkey's ravenously ambitious president. Politicians clung to power in Damascus and Ankara, but "Erdogan's War" helped shatter Syria and undermined what had been an aspiring Turkish democracy. A sad story, very ably told.' -- David Ignatius, columnist, The Washington Post'Early in Syria's peaceful uprising, Turkish officials were alarmed by Assad's brutal survival tactics, and perplexed by his turning from Turkey's friendly leader. But Syria and Syrians became props for Erdogan's own political survival. This is a fascinating story, and no one tells it better than Tol.' -- Frederic C. Hof, former U.S. Special Envoy to Syria'A compelling, richly researched picture of Erdogan as a populist, not an Islamist—a political chameleon with an uncanny sense for power. Tol's clear writing makes sense of Turkey's role in Syria's catastrophic war, its slide into authoritarianism, and where it might be going.' -- Marc Lynch, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, The George Washington University'A timely and insightful examination of Erdogan's project and its geostrategic implications. Well-written, richly informed and powerfully argued, this is a must-read for anyone interested in Turkey today, or in how strongman politics and great power ambitions are changing countries and the world order.' -- Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs, Johns Hopkins University'Expertly traces Turkish decisions and actions in the Syria conflict, providing unique context as we consider NATO's role post-Ukraine. Tol’s dissection of Turkey under Erdogan's unique leadership will help future generations of military and diplomatic leaders understand this critical, but frequently frustrating, NATO ally.' -- Gen. Joseph L. Votel (Ret.), commander of U.S. Central Command 2016-19'A compelling narrative that unveils Erdogan's unique chameleon-like qualities through the lens of the Syrian war. By connecting Erdogan's domestic strategy with his controversial foreign policy, Tol provides a treasure trove of knowledge, information and insight for future historians.' -- Cengiz Candar, award-winning journalist and former advisor to President Turgut Ozal'A sharp and penetrating analysis of Turkey's transformation under Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and of foreign policy's role in that process. A very well-written and engaging book that covers everything you need to know to understand today's Turkey.' -- Yasar Yakıs, former Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs
£27.00
Collective Ink Everyone Is Wrong About China
Book SynopsisDispelling the myths, presenting the facts, and offering predictions about the world's most important bilateral relationship.
£16.14
Bonnier Books Ltd How Wars End
Book SynopsisThe invasion went ahead, and only years later, the world discovered that Iraq had had no biological weapons at that time. From this experience and the many others he has had as a weapons inspector, conflict analyst and activist, in How Wars End van Aken shows how conflict resolution really works.
£15.29
Verso Books Someone Else's Empire: British Illusions and
Book SynopsisSOMEONE ELSE'S EMPIRE dispels the myth of a 'Global Britain' that punches above its weight in the world. The reality, argues Tom Stevenson, is that Britain lacks even the barest outline of an independent foreign policy. The impetus for so many policy decisions, from Iraq to AUKUS, comes from a supine desire to maintain lieutenant rank in the Washington hierarchy, whatever the consequences.Nostalgia for global influence has produced a compulsive Atlanticism and a reflexive resort to military actions that the UK is near incapable of actually performing. The net effect of Brexit has been an increase in vassalage. Yet for what must ultimately be psychological reasons, British leaders and national security clerks have tended to dislike seeing Britain framed by American power. Someone Else's Empire looks at the infrastructure of a US world order re-energised by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and fits the UK into the picture without the usual euphemisms. It is one thing to station military forces around the world to maintain your empire, but quite another to do so for someone else's.Trade ReviewA fascinating read about Britain's dreams of empire and embarrassing deference to Washington -- Antony Loewenstein, author of The Palestine LaboratoryThis lacerating book lays bare everything from the sanguinary politics of the British defence establishment to the management of venal political proxies in the Middle East. -- Laleh Khalili, author of Sinews of War and TradeStevenson writes vividly of the United States' relentless pursuit of international predominance and Britain's role as its loyal adjutant. An insight-laden exploration. -- Rajan Menon, author of The Conceit of Humanitarian InterventionWelcome ... evocative ... Reproduces a style of reportage, highly literary yet historically informed, that harkens back to a bygone era of journalism -- John-Baptiste Oduor * Jacobin *Table of ContentsI. Equerry Dreams1. Eternal Allies2. Someone Else's Empire3. The British Defence Intellectual4. The Anglo-settler Societies and World History5. Green Bamboo, Red SnowII. Instruments of Order6. The Economic Weapon7. Keys to the World8. The Proxy Doctrine9. On Thermonuclear War10. AstrostrategyIII. A Prize from Fairyland11. What Are We There For?12. The Benefits of Lawlessness13. In Egypt's Prisons14. Successors on the Earth15. The Revolutionary Decade16. Kinetic StrikesPostscript: Reactive Management of the World Empire
£18.00
Verso Books Governing the World Without World Government
Book SynopsisThe world does not need a world government to govern itself. Roberto Mangabeira Unger argues that there is an alternative: to build cooperation among countries to advance their shared interests. We urgently need to avert war between the United States and China, catastrophic climate change, and other global public harms. We must do so, however, in a world in which sovereign states remain in command.The opportunity for self-interested cooperation among nations is immense. Unger shows how different types of coalitions among states can seize on this opportunity and avoid the greatest dangers that we face. Unger offers a way of thinking about international relations as well as a transformative program: a realism with hope and a way to develop the international diversity that we want without the international anarchy that we fear. His ideas challenge the disillusionment and fatalism that threaten to overwhelm us.Trade Review“A very little book with a very big message.”—Oliver Letwin, Tablet
£9.49
Profile Books Ltd The Economist: Megachange: The world in 2050
Book SynopsisIn 2050 there will be 9.3 billion people alive - compared with 7 billion today - and the number will still be rising. The population aged over sixty-five will have more than doubled, to more than 16 per cent; China's GDP will be 80 per cent more than America's; and the number of cars on India's roads will have increased by 3,880 per cent. And, in 2050 it should be clear whether we are alone in the universe. What other megachanges can we expect - and what will their impact be? This comprehensive and compelling book will cover the most significant trends that are shaping the coming decades, with each of its twenty chapters elegantly and authoritatively outlined by Economist contributors, and rich in supporting facts and figures. It will chart the rise and fall of fertility rates across continents; how energy resources will change in light of new technology, and how different nations will deal with major developments in science and warfare. Megachange is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what the next four decades hold in store.Trade ReviewIf you want to know what the future may look like, here it is. A brilliantly well informed guide - all I can say is wow -- Chris PattenThis brilliant book delves beneath the crises in the newspapers to expose the forces that our reshaping our economy, our politics and our everyday lives. Limpid and provocative, it sets the facts and figures of tomorrow's world into a narrative that is gripping and compelling. -- Mark Leonard, author of Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century and What Does China Think?there are thoroughly engaging pieces here, especially from the science crowd * Weekend Australian *
£14.25
