Geopolitics Books

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Book SynopsisThis volume explores the role of water in the Middle East's current economic, political and environmental transformations, which are set to continue in the near future. In addition to examining water conflict from within the domestic contexts of Iraq, Yemen and Syria-- all experiencing high levels of instability today--the contributors shed further light on how conflict over water resources has influenced political relations in the region. They interrogate how competition over water resources may precipitate or affect war in the Middle East, and assess whether or how resource vulnerability impacts fragile states and societies in the region and beyond. Water and Conflict in the Middle East is an essential contribution to our understanding of turbulence in this globally significant region.Trade Review'Refreshing and absorbing. […] Marcus Dubois King … has assembled a diverse and highly competent team of experts who present seven superb case studies on the topic. Each chapter is unfailingly well written, meticulously documented, and thoughtful.' -- The Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs'Eschewing all-too-easy and tired statements about the role of water in Middle East politics, this volume critically examines hydropolitics from Turkey to the UAE, offering novel analyses of everything from groundwater quality to environmental migration. An important book.' -- Alan Mikhail, Professor of History, Yale University, and author of 'Under Osman's Tree: The Ottoman Empire, Egypt, and Environmental History''Even by the planet's increasingly thirsty standards, the Middle East's water situation is a mess. More and more people have insufficient water, fueling health problems. Farms and factories often run dry with obvious economic consequences. And, crucially, scarcity is contributing to the region's instability. This superbly crafted essay collection paints a picture of a water world under attack, while also hinting at a number of paths forward. An essential primer for anyone interested in what a more water-scarce region might look like.' -- Peter Schwartzstein, award-winning environmental journalist and author, and Fellow at the Center for Climate and Security'Conflict over water resources in the Middle East is nothing new. It goes back at least 5,000 years to the earliest civilisations in Mesopotamia. Today, factors such as increasing environmental scarcity and the construction of new dams and other water infrastructure, as seen in the countries sharing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, further complicate political relations in this often tumultuous region. These case studies shed light on water's increasing relevance to conflict, underscoring the need for thoughtful and urgent policies to prevent the most adverse outcomes.' -- Edward 'Skip' Gnehm Jr., Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, and former US Ambassador to Kuwait and Jordan'Fighting over water in the Middle East has persisted for millennia. So what's new? Climate change will likely reduce rainfall in the area, while populations will soar. Water scarcity will grow to dimensions never encountered and tensions will rise, provoking and stoking crises. This volume explores these rising challenges and more, including an often neglected source of conflict--underground aquifers that underlie the area. In time, water in this region may become a more valuable resource than oil, something often a source of conflict. King weaves together an enlightening tapestry through a series of incisive case studies. An important contribution to the fields of conflict and the environment.' -- James Lee, Researcher in Residence, School of International Service, American University, and author of 'Environmental Conflict and Cooperation'

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed investigative reporter and author of Confronting Collapse examines the global forces that led to 9/11 in this provocative exposé. The attacks of September 11, 2001 were accomplished through an amazing orchestration of logistics and personnel. Crossing the Rubicon examines how such a conspiracy was possible through an interdisciplinary analysis of petroleum, geopolitics, narco-traffic, intelligence and militarismwithout which 9/11 cannot be understood.In reality, 9/11 and the resulting War on Terror are parts of a massive authoritarian response to an emerging economic crisis of unprecedented scale. Peak Oilthe beginning of the end for our industrial civilizationis driving the elites of American power to implement unthinkably draconian measures of repression, warfare and population control. Crossing the Rubicon is more than a story of corruption and greed. It is a map of the perilous terrain through which we are aTrade Review"Ruppert's hefty book is meant to make us think and inspire us all to be courageous against the forces that want us to live in fear" - Nexus, December 2004.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Part 1 - Motive; Part 2 - Means; Part 3 -- Opportunity; Part IV - Empire and Decline; Index.

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Book SynopsisChina's rise as a global superpower has completely reshaped the landscape of international politics. As the country's authoritarian regime becomes increasingly assertive on the world stage, the United States grows ever more hostile to its Asian rival. Repressive moves by China in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, military activities in the South China Sea and Western measures against Chinese companies have only exacerbated tensions. While the great powers of East and West battle over hegemony, the world is being led inexorably towards a new Cold War. During his time as a Cabinet minister attending National Security Council meetings, Oliver Letwin realised that there was no agreement among Western politicians and academics on how to conduct a peaceful long-term relationship with China. China vs America traces the contours of history, both ancient and modern, to explain how China has emerged as a challenger to American power in the twenty-first century and why this has created such uneasiness in the West. In this robust and controversial assessment, Letwin argues that the international rules-based order is completely ill equipped to foster a positive relationship between China and the United States and that the global community must act now to correct the collision course these two behemoths are currently on before it's too late.Trade Review"Oliver Letwin has provided an extraordinarily thoughtful contribution to the debate about how we should react to the rise of China. He challenges many common assumptions made on both sides - this is a must-read for one of the biggest issues of the century." - Jeremy Hunt, former UK Foreign Secretary "It's time we had a proper conversation about how we can live with China, and this is a book which starts that discussion, considering the world we are actually living in rather than the one we used to live in." - Peter Mandelson, former First Secretary of State and European Commissioner for Trade

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Book SynopsisSelected as one of the 100 Notable Books of the Year by the New York Times In recent times, the United States and Iran have seemed closer to war than peace, but that is not where their story began. When America was in its infancy, Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams turned to the history of the Persian Empire as they looked for guidance on how to run their new country. And in the following century, Iranian newspapers heralded America as an ideal that their own government might someday emulate. How, then, did the two nations become the adversaries that they are today? In this rich, fascinating history, John Ghazvinian traces the complex story of America and Iran over three centuries. Drawing on years of research conducted in both countries – including access to Iranian government archives rarely available to Western scholars – he leads us through the four seasons of US-Iranian relations: from the spring of mutual fascination, where Iran, sick of duplicitous Britain and Russia interfering in its affairs, sought a relationship with the United States, to the long, dark winter of hatred that we are yet to see end. A revealing account, America and Iran lays bare when, where and how it all went wrong – and why it didn’t have to be this way.Trade Review‘Delightfully readable, genuinely informative and impressively literate.’ * Abbas Milani, New York Times *‘Ghazvinian recounts a tragic story of Iranian overtures spurned by Americans in cahoots with their Israeli and Saudi allies… Ghazvinian has a witty style.’ * The Economist *‘This book presents the long, troubled relationship between the United States and Iran in a breezy and supple narrative, replete with poignant anecdotes, to posit convincingly that “antagonism between Iran and America is wholly unnecessary”.’ * New York Times, 100 Notable Books of 2021 *‘a stimulating and well-written study of one of the key relationships in today’s world.’ * Literary Review *‘a magnificent, bold, wide-reaching and potentially significant book on the thorny subject of Iranian-American relations… throws fresh historical light on the original exchanges between Americans and Iranians, and shows us fascinating historical characters, brought vividly to life with pen portraits and amusing anecdotes… The framing of the book into four seasons, ending with winter, is a stroke of genius as it lends to [Ghazvinian’s] overall argument a poignant resonance: there are better days ahead… This is history as history should be written: accessible, humane, thoughtful, insightful and in places extremely funny… someone just has to get a copy of this book to the White House, fast.’ * Charlie Gammell, Catholic Herald *‘Iran’s Islamic Revolution is just one small dot on a much wider trajectory of Iranian history this book explores with rigorous analysis, invaluable interviews, and archival evidence – from Iran and the United States… a compelling and insightful read. It tells a nuanced version of history that is normally presented as a catastrophic eschatological clash of civilisations… Ghazvinian eschews these headline-grabbing histrionics and makes a much more convincing argument instead.’ * J P O'Malley, Irish Examiner *‘An important, urgently needed book – a hugely ambitious, illuminating portrait of the entwined histories of Iran and America, and the first book to examine, in all its aspects, the rich and fraught relations between these two powers.’ * Kirkus, starred review *‘History in the hands of a master.’ -- Ambassador John Limbert, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran (2009–10), and hostage in the US Embassy in Tehran (1979–81)‘Ghazvinian describes in exquisite detail the relationship between Iran and the United States – from its inception in the years before the American Revolution to the present day. Beautifully laid out and at time reading like a thriller you don’t want to put down.’ -- Hooman Majd, author of The Ayatollah Begs to DifferTable of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Spring 1 East of Eden 2 Tashrifat 3 The Amateurs 4 The Professionals 5 The Man from Manila 6 War and Peace Part II: Summer 7 “The Sordid Side” 8 The Warrior-King 9 Hello Johnny 10 Tehran Spring 11 “One Penny More” 12 The Liberty Bell and the Wool Pajamas 13 1953 Part III: Autumn 14 “Yes” and “Yes, Sir” 15 You Say You Want a Revolution? 16 This Turbulent Priest 17 The Final Emperor 18 The Unthinkable Part IV: Winter 19 1979 309 20 Dulce et Decorum Est 21 Goodwill Hunting 22 The First Hopey-Changey Moment 23 That September Day 24 The Moral Cold War 25 Atoms for Peace? 26 Designed to Fail Epilogue Acknowledgments Archival sources Notes Index Illustration credits

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Book SynopsisSamuel Huntington's landmark book, The Clash of Civilizations, presented a vision of a world divided by cultural differences, national interests, and political ideologies. In The Geopolitics of Emotion, Dominique Moïsi brilliantly demonstrates that the world is nowadays more likely to be shaped by the 'clash of emotions'.Moïsi contends that both Europe and the United States are dominated by a fear of the 'other' and by the loss of their national identity and purpose. For Muslims and Arabs, the combination of historical grievances, exclusion from the economic boon of globalization, and civil and religious warfare has created a culture of humiliation that is quickly devolving into a culture of hatred. And as the West and the Muslim world lock horns, Asia, able to concentrate on building a better future, has come to embody 'the culture of hope'. By making clear the driving emotions behind today's headlines, Dominique Moisi offers a better understanding of the world we live in and perhaps a more constructive approach to the conflicts that plague us.Trade ReviewScintillating * Martin Wolf *[A] compassionate essay... a clear-sighted plea for understanding "the Other" in the age of globalisation * Observer *

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Book SynopsisRevisiting the question of contemporary Asian order and posing critical questions about the future of regional leadership in Asia, Amitav Acharya challenges the conventional wisdom that imagined the Asian order solely premised upon US-Japan-China relations and gave little attention to India-China-Southeast Asia relations.Trade Review...a lucid and readable book that rightly asks us to reconsider visions unfulfilled, paths not taken and the historical background to present challenges. * Ian Hall, Griffith University, Australia, International Affairs *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The Ideas of Asia; 2. From 'Indianization' to 'Look East'; 3. Jawaharlal Nehru at Bandung: East vs. West; 4. Chou En-lai at Bandung: The Origins of Sino-Indian Rivalry?; 5. India and China in Southeast Asia: Competition and Convergence; 6. China, India and ASEAN in the Emerging Global Order: Lessons from ASEAN; Conclusion: Alternative Visions of Asia; Index; About the Author

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Book SynopsisHow the turmoil of recent years gives leaders an unprecedented opportunity to redesign global strategies and systems and to remobilize toward a smarter, more resilient, and equitable future.How can leaders faced with tremendous global upheaval create more resilient and trustworthy systems? In The Great Remobilization, Olaf Groth, Mark Esposito, and Terence Tse (along with research partner Dan Zehr) diagnose tectonic shifts in the global economy with an eye toward designing a smarter ?operating system? for the world. Through their FLP-IT (forces, logic, phenomena, impact, and triage) framework for strategic leadership, the authors chart a path forward, providing guidance for a new breed of ?design activist leader.? Focusing on key tectonic shifts they call the Five Cs?COVID and pandemic management, the cognitive economy and crypto, cybersecurity, climate change and carbon management, and China?they examine the implications that new forces and logics will have on countries, organizations, and individuals.Drawing from one hundred interviews and conversations with top-level executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, diplomats, generals, scholars, and other leading experts from around the world, the authors show how to create new inclusive visions with the aim of rebuilding the trust that will allow for both human and economic growth. Insightful and forward-thinking, The Great Remobilization powerfully illustrates the rare opportunity that we have in this historic moment to actively redesign our fragile, overpressurized global systems and develop new strategies and leadership approaches for the future. Authored by three scholar-practitioners, their synthetic perspectives and insights are at once rooted in deep research and focused on relevance for leaders and their organizations.

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Book SynopsisThe Battle for Pakistan examines US-Pakistan relations amid regional tensions, focusing on challenges, consequences of past mistakes, and Trump administration strategies.

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Book SynopsisIn recent years a series of crises have erupted on the European Union''s eastern borders. Russia''s annexation of Crimea and the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine presented the EU with a major foreign policy challenge, in both Ukraine and across the other countries of the so-called Eastern Partnership. In response, the EU has begun to map its own form of ''liberal-redux geopolitics'' that combines various strategic logics. This book traces the effect of these crises on the foreign policy of the EU, examining the changes in policies towards the countries on its eastern borders, the EU''s review of the Eastern Partnership, as well as the EU''s relations with Russia overall. It goes on to uncover whether the EU has contained the crisis or if it has set up new conditions for more instability in the future.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. An analytical framework for European Union crisis responses; 3. The return of geopolitics; 4. Pre-crisis European Union eastern policy; 5. Eastern policy from low to high politics; 6. Limits to the European Union response; 7. Ukraine I: shepherding revolution?; 8. Ukraine II: containing conflict; 9. Ukraine III: supporting reform; 10. The impact on other eastern partners; 11. Conclusion: a half-new European Union eastern policy.

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Book SynopsisIn recent years a series of crises have erupted on the European Union''s eastern borders. Russia''s annexation of Crimea and the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine presented the EU with a major foreign policy challenge, in both Ukraine and across the other countries of the so-called Eastern Partnership. In response, the EU has begun to map its own form of ''liberal-redux geopolitics'' that combines various strategic logics. This book traces the effect of these crises on the foreign policy of the EU, examining the changes in policies towards the countries on its eastern borders, the EU''s review of the Eastern Partnership, as well as the EU''s relations with Russia overall. It goes on to uncover whether the EU has contained the crisis or if it has set up new conditions for more instability in the future.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. An analytical framework for European Union crisis responses; 3. The return of geopolitics; 4. Pre-crisis European Union eastern policy; 5. Eastern policy from low to high politics; 6. Limits to the European Union response; 7. Ukraine I: shepherding revolution?; 8. Ukraine II: containing conflict; 9. Ukraine III: supporting reform; 10. The impact on other eastern partners; 11. Conclusion: a half-new European Union eastern policy.

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Book SynopsisJohn A. Vasquez explains the processes that cause the spread of interstate war by looking at how contagion worked to bring countries into the First World War. Analysing all the key states that declared war, the book is comprised of three parts. Part I lays out six models of contagion: alliances, contiguity, territorial rivalry, opportunity, ''brute force'' and economic dependence. Part II then analyses in detail the decision making of every state that entered the war from Austria-Hungary in 1914 to the United States and Greece in 1917. Part III has two chapters - the first considers the neutral countries, and the second concludes the book with an overarching theoretical analysis, including major lessons of the war and new hypotheses about contagion. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of international relations, conflict studies and international history, especially those interested in the spread of conflict, or the First World War.Trade Review'Some scholars like to look at forests from the outside-in and never get too close to the trees. Others like to plunge into the forest and tag every tree. Despite the old adage of not seeing the forest for the trees, both approaches can prove profitable. John A. Vasquez's latest book is a tree-tagging exercise that pays off in generating an inside-out look at why war participation spreads. There is still more to learn about these contagious processes but tackling first one of the toughest nuts to crack in the war inventory, World War I, should make it easier to figure out why wars spread in general. And just when you thought everything had been said about World War I that could be said, Vasquez comes up with some new twists on how things worked between 1914 and 1918.' William R. Thompson, Distinguished and Rogers Professor Emeritus, Indiana University'Contagion and War is a nuanced and systematic exploration of the multiple causal processes through which war might spread, illustrated by a detailed examination of the First World War. Vasquez makes a significant contribution to both the theory of international conflict and to our historical understanding of one of the world's most catastrophic and consequential wars.' Jack S. Levy, Rutgers University, New Jersey'Contagion and War adds to our knowledge of World War I and multiparty conflicts … by recognizing that temporal sequences are involved in both the start and spread of belligerency, and teasing out and exploring the mechanisms associated with them.' Richard Ned Lebow, War in HistoryTable of ContentsPart I. Theoretical Expectations: 1. Contagion processes in the First World War; 2. Research design; Part II. Dyadic Case Analyses: History and Data: 3. 1914: the local war and the first wave; 4. 1915–16: the second wave; 5. 1917: the third wave; Part III. Conclusions: Lessons from the First World War: 6. The neutrals; 7. How contagion actually worked.

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Book SynopsisIn this work, Amrita Narlikar argues that, contrary to common assumption, modern-day politics displays a surprising paradox: poverty - and the powerlessness with which it is associated - has emerged as a political tool and a formidable weapon in international negotiation. The success of poverty narratives, however, means that their use has not been limited to the neediest. Focusing on behaviours and outcomes in a particularly polarising area of bargaining - international trade - and illustrating wider applications of the argument, Narlikar shows how these narratives have been effectively used. Yet, she also sheds light on how indiscriminate overuse and misuse increasingly run the risk of adverse consequences for the system at large, and devastating repercussions for the weakest members of society. Narlikar advances a theory of agency and empowerment by focusing on the life-cycles of narratives, and concludes by offering policy-relevant insights on how to construct winning and sustainabTrade Review'Amrita Narlikar is the most insightful scholar of political economy in international trade relations today, with a unique focus on the place of developing countries in them. This volume will become a classic that we will read with profit and pleasure for years to come.' Jagdish Bhagwati, Columbia University, New York, and author of In Defense of Globalization'Material interests matter but Amrita Narlikar shows with clarity and insight that economic narratives, the stories we tell, are just as important. This book is both an important methodological intervention with wide application and a significant contribution to understanding the role of poverty in shaping trade policy.' Martin Daunton, Emeritus Professor of Economic History, University of Cambridge'Amrita Narlikar explains how poor countries can turn apparent political disadvantages to their own benefit in international negotiations. With accessible prose and convincing empirical evidence, she demonstrates the importance of seizing systemic opportunities, shaping background narratives, and knowing just how far to push. Poverty Narratives and Power Paradoxes in International Trade Negotiations and Beyond is both an original scholarly analysis and an elegant primer for practitioners.' Louis W. Pauly, University of Toronto'Powerlessness is not all it seems. Amrita Narlikar offers a compelling new take on the uses and abuses of poverty and power in global politics.' Louise Fawcett, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford'This book challenges each of us. It surprises, defies, and provokes. In questioning our assumptions about power and powerlessness, it calls for a more lucid and creative posture towards who we are and who they are supposed to be.' Valerie Rosoux, FNRS, University of Louvain, author of Negotiating Reconciliation in Peacemaking'This is one of those books that will force casual observers of international trade politics to rethink their priors.' Daniel Drezner, The Washington Post'Ultimately, this is a book that uses the prism of the 'poverty/powerlessness' narratives to capture the many power shifts and struggles defining this moment in history, from the redistribution of power across states all the way to the gender, race and intergenerational challenges that have achieved an acute salience in our lifetime. It is remarkable that Narlikar has managed to elegantly connect such a wide span of topics within a relatively succinct book.' Henrique Choer Moraes, International Affairs'Narlikar's latest book shows how perceived weakness can be overcome; she conducts careful factual research to produce her findings, in this original, useful, and valuable study.' I. William Zartman, Jacob Blaustein Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC'… essential reading …' Charles B. Roger, Global Policy JournalTable of Contents1. Introduction: poverty narratives and power paradoxes; 2. The disempowered many: when the weak suffered what they must; 3. Winning against the odds: a growing empowerment; 4. When fair is foul and foul is fair: overuse and misuse of the poverty narrative; 5. Conclusion: how to sustain the power of the powerless and build winning narratives.

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Book SynopsisThe fast-growing last decade of strong economic growth of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has played a critical role in Asia-Pacific regionalism and global trade. This book explores the concept of ASEAN law under the normative framework of the new regional economic order. It examines the roadmap of the new ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 by evaluating the impact of ASEAN trade agreements on domestic legislation on professional services, financial integration, investment disputes and digital trade. More importantly, it sheds light on the legal implications of ASEAN''s agreements with China and India and the potential developments of mega-regional trade agreements such as the CPTPP and the RCEP. Hence, the legal analysis and case studies in the book offer a fresh view of Asia-Pacific integration and bridge the gap between academia and practice.Trade Review'This volume makes a valuable contribution to debates on regional and international economic integration at a time when both are under threat. The editors have assembled an outstanding list of legal experts from across Asia and beyond to reflect on ASEAN, exploring questions of global relevance in areas including digital trade, investment liberalization, and financial integration.' Tania Voon, University of Melbourne'Edited by two leading experts in international economic law and regional integration, this volume is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in understanding ASEAN's implications for regional governance, as well as its impact on the future of goods, services and investment regulations in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.' Markus Wagner, University of Wollongong and Executive Vice President, Society of International Economic LawTable of ContentsPart I. ASEAN Agreements in the Global Context: 1. ASEAN law in the new regional economic order: an introductory roadmap to the ASEAN Economic Community Pasha L. Hsieh and Bryan Mercurio; 2. The ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement: the evolution and regional implications Minh Hue Nguyen, Deborah Elms and Lavanya N.; 3. Building towards the RCEP? Reflections on the ASEAN-China FTA Heng Wang; 4. The dispute settlement mechanism in ASEAN's external agreements with China, Japan and Korea Henry Gao; Part II. Services Trade and Financial Integration: 5. Moving towards liberalization: the ATISA and beyond Bryan Mercurio; 6. Challenges of ASEAN MRAs on professional qualifications Yoshifumi Fukunaga; 7. Banking integration in ASEAN and the challenges of regulatory cooperation Federico Lupo-Pasini; 8. The shifting sands of capital market development and integration in ASEAN: the case of the Phillipines and Indonesia Michelle Dy; 9. Transnational legal services in Asia: legal implications of the AEC and the CPTPP Pasha L. Hsieh; 10. ASEAN air transport integration and liberalization: a slow but practical model Jae Woon Lee; Part III. Investment Liberalization and Protection: 11. Investment liberalization in ASEAN: moving from myths to reality Sufian Jusoh; 12. The ACIA: much more than a bit of protection for foreign investors? Julien Chaisse; 13. Fragmented approaches to investor-state dispute settlement mechanism in intra-ASEAN and extra-ASEAN investment treaties Trinh Hai Yen; 14. Pro-development dispute resolution mechanisms and norms for investments and commercial disputes in ASEAN Yip Man; 15. The AEC and regulatory reforms in CLMV countries with a special focus on Myanmar Nimnual Piewthongngam; Part IV. Intellectual Property, Digital Trade and Consumer Protection: 16. Free movement of goods and intellectual property exhaustion in ASEAN: a roadblock in the ASEAN way Irene Caboli; 17. Legal and regulatory challenges to facilitating e-commerce in ASEAN Eliza Mik; 18. Data localization and digital trade barriers: ASEAN in mega-regionalism Han-Wei Liu; 19. Consumer contracts and product safety law in Southeast Asia: partly trading up? Luke Nottage and Jeannie Paterson; 20. Conclusion: realizing the AEC Blueprint 2025 Pasha L. Hsieh and Bryan Mercurio.

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Book SynopsisWritten for readers, scholars, and students concerned about a world in crisis, this book explains the continued significance of globalization in our unsettled times. Linking the theoretical and the practical, it offers a comprehensive appraisal of globalization in a world that is wavering between globalist expansion and nationalist retrenchment.Trade Review'Steger and James have produced a timely and indispensable study. Globalization Matters is the most comprehensive book on globalization in recent years. It offers a sweeping overview of the theories, approaches, and principal debates in global studies. Erudite yet accessible and engaging, it is suitable for classroom use but will also be of great interest to seasoned scholars of globalization. This is the go-to book we have been waiting for on these matters. Beyond the academy, it should be of great interest to members of the public who wish to become familiar with what this buzzword is all about, or simply interested in the state of global politics and society.' William I. Robinson, University of California, Santa Barbara'In a time when globalization seems to be under assault by a rising tide of neo-nationalism, Steger and James convincingly show that globalization continues to matter. More importantly, they show that the current anti-global rebellion is itself a part of the complex pattern of globalization that in the twenty-first century embraces the whole world. Gracefully and intelligently written, this is an important and must read book.' Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California, Santa Barbara and author of Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence'Steger and James bring clarity to hotly debated and frequently misunderstood changes in globalization. Their remarkable book quashes misrepresentations and memes that range from hyperglobalist exaggeration to anti-globalist populism. Artfully presented and thoroughly researched, Globalization Matters is a masterpiece.' James H. Mittelman, American University, Washington DC and author of Implausible Dream: The World-Class University and Repurposing Higher Education'Steger and James' immensely learned, yet readable, volume does a great service to scholarship on the global in three ways. First it lays to rest the hackneyed and insupportable notion that globalization no longer matters. Second it disposes of the equally unsound claim that global studies is too abstract to tell us much about the actual state of the world as it transforms today. Finally it addresses issues and themes of great moment, in the academy and beyond, to fashion an engaged, engaging and multidimensional theory of globalization.' Barrie Axford, Oxford Brookes University'Magnificent. Two of the most seasoned analysts of globalization comprehensively update the history and thoroughly reappraise the theory. A flowing, engaging, compelling case that 'globalization matters'.' Jan Aart Scholte, Göteborgs universitet, Sweden and Universität Duisburg-Essen, GermanyTable of Contents1. Introduction: what is happening to globalization?; 2. Mapping a new genealogy of 'globalization'; 3. Rethinking the dominant framework of globalization theory; 4. Considering the subjective dimensions of globalization; 5. Outlining an engaged theory of globalization; 6. Excavating the long history of globalization; 7. Examining the promise of global studies; 8. Making sense of the populist challenge to globalization; 9. Confronting the global urban imaginary; 10. Living in the unsettled world of the Anthropocene; 11. Concluding reflections; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisAt the turn of the twenty-first century, globalization - both the process and the idea - bestrode the world. Widely acclaimed by political and economic pundits as the most important phenomenon of our time, it took the world by storm. Two decades later, it has come under sustained attack by the re-invigorated forces of the extreme right and radical left. Does globalization still matter in our unsettled world? Responding in the affirmative, this study develops and applies a new framework of an ''engaged theory of globalization'' to analyze some of today''s most pressing global challenges: the rise of national populism, ecological degradation, rapid urbanization, new sources of insecurity, and the changing landscape of higher education. Offering a comprehensive appraisal of globalization in our unsettled times, the authors explain why and how transplanetary interrelations continue to matter in a world that is wavering between globalist expansion and nationalist retrenchment.Trade Review'Steger and James have produced a timely and indispensable study. Globalization Matters is the most comprehensive book on globalization in recent years. It offers a sweeping overview of the theories, approaches, and principal debates in global studies. Erudite yet accessible and engaging, it is suitable for classroom use but will also be of great interest to seasoned scholars of globalization. This is the go-to book we have been waiting for on these matters. Beyond the academy, it should be of great interest to members of the public who wish to become familiar with what this buzzword is all about, or simply interested in the state of global politics and society.' William I. Robinson, University of California, Santa Barbara'In a time when globalization seems to be under assault by a rising tide of neo-nationalism, Steger and James convincingly show that globalization continues to matter. More importantly, they show that the current anti-global rebellion is itself a part of the complex pattern of globalization that in the twenty-first century embraces the whole world. Gracefully and intelligently written, this is an important and must read book.' Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California, Santa Barbara and author of Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence'Steger and James bring clarity to hotly debated and frequently misunderstood changes in globalization. Their remarkable book quashes misrepresentations and memes that range from hyperglobalist exaggeration to anti-globalist populism. Artfully presented and thoroughly researched, Globalization Matters is a masterpiece.' James H. Mittelman, American University, Washington DC and author of Implausible Dream: The World-Class University and Repurposing Higher Education'Steger and James' immensely learned, yet readable, volume does a great service to scholarship on the global in three ways. First it lays to rest the hackneyed and insupportable notion that globalization no longer matters. Second it disposes of the equally unsound claim that global studies is too abstract to tell us much about the actual state of the world as it transforms today. Finally it addresses issues and themes of great moment, in the academy and beyond, to fashion an engaged, engaging and multidimensional theory of globalization.' Barrie Axford, Oxford Brookes University'Magnificent. Two of the most seasoned analysts of globalization comprehensively update the history and thoroughly reappraise the theory. A flowing, engaging, compelling case that 'globalization matters'.' Jan Aart Scholte, Göteborgs universitet, Sweden and Universität Duisburg-Essen, GermanyTable of Contents1. Introduction: what is happening to globalization?; 2. Mapping a new genealogy of 'globalization'; 3. Rethinking the dominant framework of globalization theory; 4. Considering the subjective dimensions of globalization; 5. Outlining an engaged theory of globalization; 6. Excavating the long history of globalization; 7. Examining the promise of global studies; 8. Making sense of the populist challenge to globalization; 9. Confronting the global urban imaginary; 10. Living in the unsettled world of the Anthropocene; 11. Concluding reflections; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Organisation, and the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Friendly Relations Declaration, which states the fundamental principles of the international legal order. In commemoration, some of the world''s most prominent international law scholars from all continents have come together to offer a comprehensive study of the fundamental principles of international law. Each chapter in this volume reflects decades of experience, work and reflection by the most authoritative voices of the field. At the same time, the book is an invitation to end narrow specialisation and re-engage with the wider body of rules and processes that lie at the foundations of the international legal order.Trade Review'The edited volume musters an impressive array of some of international law's most prominent scholars and offers valuable food for thought for addressing today's manifold delicate challenges … The UN Friendly Relations Declaration at 50 achieves [the] goal of moving away from specialism and taking a more generalist perspective formidably. Such a perspective shift is indeed much needed and the lucid analyses of the fundamental principles of the international legal order are certain to make very meaningful contributions to international legal scholarship.' Benedikt Behlert, Die Friedens-Warte'All the essays are erudite and supported by a wealth of original source material. This book will be a valuable resource for those interested in international law and international organization.' S. R. Silverburg, ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction: the fundamental principles of international law - an enduring ideal? Jorge E. Viñuales; 1. The system of the Friendly Relations Declaration Georges Abi-Saab; 2. The historical origins and setting of the Friendly Relations Declaration Samuel Moyn and Umut Özsu; Part I. The Principles of the Friendly Relations Declaration: 3. The prohibition of the use of force Olivier Corten; 4. Peaceful settlement of international disputes Shotaro Hamamoto; 5. The duty not to intervene in matters within domestic jurisdiction Dire Tladi; 6. Co-operation Laurence Boisson de Chazournes and Jason Rudall; 7. Self-determination Marcelo G. Kohen; 8. Sovereign equality Martti Koskenniemi and Ville Kari; 9. Good faith Guillaume Futhazar and Anne Peters; Part II. Fundamental Principles of International Law Beyond the Friendly Relations Declaration: 10. Human rights protection as a principle Eibe Riedel; 11. The fundamental principles of international humanitarian law Jia Bing Bing; 12. Prevention of environmental harm Leslie-Anne Duvic-Paoli and Jorge E. Viñuales; 13. Freedoms in common areas Tullio Treves; 14. Principles governing the global economy Jürgen Kurtz, Jorge E. Viñuales and Michael Waibel; 15. The Friendly Relations Declaration at 50 Pierre-Marie Dupuy; Appendix - Friendly Relations Declaration.

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Book SynopsisOur understanding of civil war is shot through with the spectre of quagmire, a situation that traps belligerents, compounding and entrenching war''s dangers. Despite the subject''s importance, its causes are obscure. A pervasive ''folk'' notion that quagmire is intrinsic to certain countries or wars has foreclosed inquiry, and scholarship has failed to identify quagmire as an object of study in its own right. Schulhofer-Wohl provides the first treatment of quagmire in civil war. In a rigorous but accessible analysis, he explains how quagmire can emerge from domestic-international interactions and strategic choices. To support the argument, Schulhofer-Wohl draws upon field research on Lebanon''s sixteen-year civil war, structured comparisons with civil wars in Chad and Yemen, and rigorous statistical analyses of all civil wars worldwide fought between 1944 and 2006. The results make clear that the ''folk'' notion misdiagnoses quagmire and demand that we revisit policies that rest upon it. Schulhofer-Wohl demonstrates that quagmire is made, not found.Trade Review'This brilliant and erudite book, the outcome of assiduous and painstaking research, pulls together the premises underlying the heuristic metaphor of Quagmire. It is a master stroke. Destined, in my view, to become a landmark, a tour de force, even a classic for the analysis of civil wars in their diverse origins and manifestations. Like other classics, Professor Schulhofer-Wohl offers an enlightened theoretical paradigm, grounded empirical fieldwork, sustained by compelling prose. Equally appealing, he adopts a multilayered approach that draws on both internationally and domestically-centered perspectives to analyze the strategic interactions between foreign states and internal warring parties. In short, to understand how belligerents become entrapped in civil wars.' Samir Khalaf, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, American University of Beirut'It is sometimes said that powers 'find' themselves bogged down in quagmires. In this lucidly written work, Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl argues that 'quagmires are made, not found.' Schulhofer-Wohl shows just how foreign backers and belligerents make quagmires through the interaction of their strategic choices. Quagmire in Civil War is not only a significant contribution to our understanding of why some civil wars become prolonged, but also an important work adding to our comprehension of the preferences and interlocking strategic choices of external and domestic actors in civil war in general.' Roger Petersen, Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology'Professor Schulhofer-Wohl penetrates deeply into the question of why some - but not all - civil wars entrap governments, rebels, and foreign backers. Quagmire's analysis sheds light on Syria's civil war after 2011. It explains why both pro-government and rebel forces often fell back to non-territorial warfare between 2014 and 2016 and why the balance shifted in favor of Asad when Russia especially escalated to back the Syrian government's move for costly territorial control and rebel backers declined to match the escalation. Aspiring policymakers need to go beyond simplistic descriptions of the evolution of civil wars to consider Schulhofer-Wohl's analysis about how decisions by different actors can together produce outcomes not originally foreseen or intended by any side in a civil war.' Robert S. Ford, US Ambassador to Syria, 2011–2014'In this magisterial book, Schulhofer-Wohl takes on a big question: Why do some civil wars become 'quagmires' while others do not? His innovative answer points to the strategic structure of a conflict and associated decision-making problems for the warring parties and their potential foreign backers. Moving research on civil wars in new directions, he brings conceptual rigor to the notion of a civil war quagmire and highlights key mechanisms leading to their emergence. His rigorous empirical approach, which combines hypotheses derived from a formal model, original fieldwork in Lebanon, cross-national statistical tests, and comparative historical research on Chad and Yemen, inspires confidence in his arguments.' Melani Cammett, Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs, Harvard University'While many scholars have viewed the Lebanese Civil War as a key case study in comparative research on armed conflict, it was never quite written. Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl has finally done that job, and no one could have done it better. Quagmire in Civil War at once provides theoretical sophistication, in-depth empirical analysis, and policy relevance. It is one of the best studies on Lebanon and the Middle East I have seen in a very long time; a strong rebuke to anyone still claiming that Middle East studies fails to contribute to political science and the comparative study of war and peace.' Reinoud Leenders, Reader at the Department of War Studies, King's College London, and author of Spoils of Truce: Corruption and State-Building in Postwar Lebanon'How do warring parties get trapped in interminable civil wars, unable either to win or withdraw? In this important new book, Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl explains why quagmire is the tragic consequence of particular strategic interactions between contending factions and their foreign backers, and not the result of domestic constraints, strategic myopia, or other decision-making pathologies. Theoretically rigorous and empirically rich, Quagmire in Civil War is an exemplary work of policy-relevant social science.' Stephen M. Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University'Quagmire in Civil War offers not only a fascinating read on a highly relevant topic, but provides a model for how statistics, game theory, history, and political science can present a challenging topic.' Jerry Lenaburg, New York Journal of Books'Quagmire in Civil War is a masterpiece of conflict studies, combining a variety of research methods to explain a confusing phenomenon which tends to compound war's dangers and bog down superpowers in foreign theaters.' Giuseppe Spatafora, Journal of Peace Research'This is an excellent and important academic book that will interest Middle East scholars, political scientists, and political economists.' Laia Balcells, The Middle East Journal'… the book provides a rigorous understanding of the mechanisms of foreign-domestic entanglement in civil wars. The quantitative comparative analysis of 140 civil wars that follows the in-depth study of the Lebanese case convincingly points to the wide applicability of the theory. From this perspective, the book is a vital reference for scholars of civil wars and internationalisation of local conflicts, setting the stage for a new research agenda for the study of quagmire, its causes, duration, effects and implications for local belligerents, foreign powers and most crucially the civilian populations that are always at the receiving end of the nightmares of quagmires.' Marina Calculli, The International SpectatorTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. A theory of quagmire; 3. The Lebanese civil war, 1975–1990: issues, actors, turning points, explanations; 4. Mechanisms of quagmire in Lebanon; 5. Civil wars worldwide, 1944–2006; 6. Comparative evidence from Chad and Yemen; 7. A field guide to quagmire.

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Book SynopsisAn important and topical contribution to the field of Middle East studies, this innovative, provocative, and timely study tackles head-on the main assumptions of the foundation of Israel as a Jewish state. Theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich, Yaacov Yadgar provides a novel analysis of the interplay between Israeli nationalism and Jewish tradition, arriving at a fresh understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through its focus on internal questions about Israeli identity. By critiquing and transcending the current discourse on religion and politics in Israel, this study brings to an international audience debates within Israel that have been previously inaccessible to non-Hebrew speaking academics. Featuring discussions on Israeli jurisprudence, nation-state law, and rabbinic courts, Israel''s Jewish Identity Crisis will have far-reaching implications, not only within the state of Israel but on politics, society and culture beyond its borders.Trade Review'Readers interested in untangling the many arguments swirling through Israel today may find this addition to Cambridge's 'The Global Middle East' series of interest.' G. M. Massey, Choice'To the large library devoted to modern Jewish-Israeli identity Yaacov Yadgar's newest book is, despite its relative slimness, a weighty addition. As its aim is to expose the root causes of the spiritual crisis Yadgar sees engulfing public life in Israel, the book is indeed innovatively 'radical' in its analytical attitude and breadth of discussion.' Israel Studies Review'… a robust analysis of the politics of identity in Israel, one that connects seemingly abstract and technical theological arguments with contemporary political and social issues within the frame-work of post-secularism.' Glen Rangwala, Journal of Modern Jewish StudiesTable of ContentsPreface; Introduction. Israel's Jewish identity crisis; 1. The politics of religious conversion and the limits of Zionist nationhood; 2. Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people?; 3. Two contemporary debates on Zionism and secularism; 4. Non-Jewish Israeli nationalism and the limits of Israeliness.

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Book SynopsisOur understanding of civil war is shot through with the spectre of quagmire, a situation that traps belligerents, compounding and entrenching war''s dangers. Despite the subject''s importance, its causes are obscure. A pervasive ''folk'' notion that quagmire is intrinsic to certain countries or wars has foreclosed inquiry, and scholarship has failed to identify quagmire as an object of study in its own right. Schulhofer-Wohl provides the first treatment of quagmire in civil war. In a rigorous but accessible analysis, he explains how quagmire can emerge from domestic-international interactions and strategic choices. To support the argument, Schulhofer-Wohl draws upon field research on Lebanon''s sixteen-year civil war, structured comparisons with civil wars in Chad and Yemen, and rigorous statistical analyses of all civil wars worldwide fought between 1944 and 2006. The results make clear that the ''folk'' notion misdiagnoses quagmire and demand that we revisit policies that rest upon iTrade Review'This brilliant and erudite book, the outcome of assiduous and painstaking research, pulls together the premises underlying the heuristic metaphor of Quagmire. It is a master stroke. Destined, in my view, to become a landmark, a tour de force, even a classic for the analysis of civil wars in their diverse origins and manifestations. Like other classics, Professor Schulhofer-Wohl offers an enlightened theoretical paradigm, grounded empirical fieldwork, sustained by compelling prose. Equally appealing, he adopts a multilayered approach that draws on both internationally and domestically-centered perspectives to analyze the strategic interactions between foreign states and internal warring parties. In short, to understand how belligerents become entrapped in civil wars.' Samir Khalaf, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, American University of Beirut'It is sometimes said that powers 'find' themselves bogged down in quagmires. In this lucidly written work, Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl argues that 'quagmires are made, not found.' Schulhofer-Wohl shows just how foreign backers and belligerents make quagmires through the interaction of their strategic choices. Quagmire in Civil War is not only a significant contribution to our understanding of why some civil wars become prolonged, but also an important work adding to our comprehension of the preferences and interlocking strategic choices of external and domestic actors in civil war in general.' Roger Petersen, Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology'Professor Schulhofer-Wohl penetrates deeply into the question of why some - but not all - civil wars entrap governments, rebels, and foreign backers. Quagmire's analysis sheds light on Syria's civil war after 2011. It explains why both pro-government and rebel forces often fell back to non-territorial warfare between 2014 and 2016 and why the balance shifted in favor of Asad when Russia especially escalated to back the Syrian government's move for costly territorial control and rebel backers declined to match the escalation. Aspiring policymakers need to go beyond simplistic descriptions of the evolution of civil wars to consider Schulhofer-Wohl's analysis about how decisions by different actors can together produce outcomes not originally foreseen or intended by any side in a civil war.' Robert S. Ford, US Ambassador to Syria, 2011–2014'In this magisterial book, Schulhofer-Wohl takes on a big question: Why do some civil wars become 'quagmires' while others do not? His innovative answer points to the strategic structure of a conflict and associated decision-making problems for the warring parties and their potential foreign backers. Moving research on civil wars in new directions, he brings conceptual rigor to the notion of a civil war quagmire and highlights key mechanisms leading to their emergence. His rigorous empirical approach, which combines hypotheses derived from a formal model, original fieldwork in Lebanon, cross-national statistical tests, and comparative historical research on Chad and Yemen, inspires confidence in his arguments.' Melani Cammett, Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs, Harvard University'While many scholars have viewed the Lebanese Civil War as a key case study in comparative research on armed conflict, it was never quite written. Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl has finally done that job, and no one could have done it better. Quagmire in Civil War at once provides theoretical sophistication, in-depth empirical analysis, and policy relevance. It is one of the best studies on Lebanon and the Middle East I have seen in a very long time; a strong rebuke to anyone still claiming that Middle East studies fails to contribute to political science and the comparative study of war and peace.' Reinoud Leenders, Reader at the Department of War Studies, King's College London, and author of Spoils of Truce: Corruption and State-Building in Postwar Lebanon'How do warring parties get trapped in interminable civil wars, unable either to win or withdraw? In this important new book, Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl explains why quagmire is the tragic consequence of particular strategic interactions between contending factions and their foreign backers, and not the result of domestic constraints, strategic myopia, or other decision-making pathologies. Theoretically rigorous and empirically rich, Quagmire in Civil War is an exemplary work of policy-relevant social science.' Stephen M. Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University'Quagmire in Civil War offers not only a fascinating read on a highly relevant topic, but provides a model for how statistics, game theory, history, and political science can present a challenging topic.' Jerry Lenaburg, New York Journal of Books'Quagmire in Civil War is a masterpiece of conflict studies, combining a variety of research methods to explain a confusing phenomenon which tends to compound war's dangers and bog down superpowers in foreign theaters.' Giuseppe Spatafora, Journal of Peace Research'This is an excellent and important academic book that will interest Middle East scholars, political scientists, and political economists.' Laia Balcells, The Middle East Journal'… the book provides a rigorous understanding of the mechanisms of foreign-domestic entanglement in civil wars. The quantitative comparative analysis of 140 civil wars that follows the in-depth study of the Lebanese case convincingly points to the wide applicability of the theory. From this perspective, the book is a vital reference for scholars of civil wars and internationalisation of local conflicts, setting the stage for a new research agenda for the study of quagmire, its causes, duration, effects and implications for local belligerents, foreign powers and most crucially the civilian populations that are always at the receiving end of the nightmares of quagmires.' Marina Calculli, The International SpectatorTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. A theory of quagmire; 3. The Lebanese civil war, 1975–1990: issues, actors, turning points, explanations; 4. Mechanisms of quagmire in Lebanon; 5. Civil wars worldwide, 1944–2006; 6. Comparative evidence from Chad and Yemen; 7. A field guide to quagmire.

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Book SynopsisAn important and topical contribution to the field of Middle East studies, this innovative, provocative, and timely study tackles head-on the main assumptions of the foundation of Israel as a Jewish state. Theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich, Yaacov Yadgar provides a novel analysis of the interplay between Israeli nationalism and Jewish tradition, arriving at a fresh understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through its focus on internal questions about Israeli identity. By critiquing and transcending the current discourse on religion and politics in Israel, this study brings to an international audience debates within Israel that have been previously inaccessible to non-Hebrew speaking academics. Featuring discussions on Israeli jurisprudence, nation-state law, and rabbinic courts, Israel''s Jewish Identity Crisis will have far-reaching implications, not only within the state of Israel but on politics, society and culture beyond its borders.Trade Review'Readers interested in untangling the many arguments swirling through Israel today may find this addition to Cambridge's 'The Global Middle East' series of interest.' G. M. Massey, Choice'To the large library devoted to modern Jewish-Israeli identity Yaacov Yadgar's newest book is, despite its relative slimness, a weighty addition. As its aim is to expose the root causes of the spiritual crisis Yadgar sees engulfing public life in Israel, the book is indeed innovatively 'radical' in its analytical attitude and breadth of discussion.' Israel Studies Review'… a robust analysis of the politics of identity in Israel, one that connects seemingly abstract and technical theological arguments with contemporary political and social issues within the frame-work of post-secularism.' Glen Rangwala, Journal of Modern Jewish StudiesTable of ContentsPreface; Introduction. Israel's Jewish identity crisis; 1. The politics of religious conversion and the limits of Zionist nationhood; 2. Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people?; 3. Two contemporary debates on Zionism and secularism; 4. Non-Jewish Israeli nationalism and the limits of Israeliness.

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Book SynopsisPiracy in Somalia sheds light on an often misunderstood world, oversimplified and demonized in the media and largely decontextualized in scholarly and policy works. It examines the root causes of piracy in Somalia, its impact on coastal communities, local views about it, and the measures taken against it. Drawing on six years'' worth of extensive fieldwork, Awet Tewelde Weldemichael amplifies the voices of local communities who have suffered under the heavy weight of illegal fishing, piracy and counter-piracy and makes their struggles comprehensible on their own terms. He also exposes complex webs of crimes within crimes of double-dealing pirates, fraudulent negotiators, duplicitous intermediaries, and treacherous foreign illegal fishers and their local partners. In so doing, this book will help inform regional and global counter-piracy endeavors, avoid possible reversals in the gains so far made against piracy, and identify the gains that need to be made against its root causes.Trade Review'This book is a valuable contribution to the study of Somali piracy.' Kris Inman, African Studies ReviewTable of ContentsPreface and acknowledgments; Introduction: locating Somali piracy in space and discourse; 1. Global root causes and local circumstances of early piracy in Somalia; 2. From cascading troubles of Somali fisheries to the onset of predatory piracy; 3. The epic spiraling of ransom piracy; 4. Local consequences of and responses to piracy; 5. International counter-piracy as a means and an end; Conclusion: IUU fishing is back! When will piracy?; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisWesterners on both the left and right overwhelmingly conflate globalisation with Westernisation and presume that the global economy is a pure Western-creation. Taking on the traditional Eurocentric Big Bang theory, or the ''expansion of the West'' narrative, this book reveals the multicultural origins of globalisation and the global economy, not so as to marginalise the West but to show how it has long been embedded in complex interconnections and co-constitutive interactions with non-Western actors/agents and processes. The central empirical theme is the role of Indian structural power that was derived from Indian cotton textile exports. Indian structural power organised the first (historical-capitalist) global economy between 1500 and c.1850 and performed a vital, albeit indirect, role in the making of Western empire, industrialisation and the second (modern-capitalist) global economy. These textiles underpinned the complex inter-relations between Africa, West/Central/East/Southeast Asia, the Americas and Europe that collectively drove global economic development forward.Trade Review'Building on his past path-breaking work, Hobson lays a historical foundation for a 'non-Eurocentric new Global Political Economy' in this engagingly written book. Teachers will be rewriting their lectures after reading its many fascinating arguments about the role of the 'non-West' in constructing the global economy.' Eric Helleiner, University of Waterloo'Hobson's compelling story takes us beyond Eurocentrism without falling prey to Eastern-centrism, finally offering a proper global-historical account that locates the origins of capitalism and the global economy not in 'the West' nor in 'the East' but in the complex relations in-between. This is a much-needed work of historiographical synthesis and conceptual innovation.' Julian Go, Boston University'This is a masterful and revisionary account of the premodern and global lineages of capitalism. It shows how the complexity of non-European societies and economies shaped their encounter with Europe as well as with each other. A necessary and supple corrective to Eurocentric histories of both modernity and globalization.' Ania Loomba, University of Pennsylvania'… monumental work … Highly recommended.' M. F. Farrell, Choice MagazineTable of Contents1. Taking Stock for the Journey Ahead – Mapping a New Global Political Economy; Part I. Multicultural Origins of the First (Historical Capitalist) Global Economy, 1500–1850: 2. Going Global 1.0: Chinese Agency in the Making of the First Global Economy; 3. The Afro-Indian Pivot (I): Indian Structural Power and the Global Atlantic System; 4. The Afro-Indian Pivot (II): Entangled Agencies and Power of Africans, Indians and West Asian Muslims; 5. Entangled Indo-European Agencies: Implications of Indian Structural Power; 6. Indian Merchant-Financial Capitalists: Navigating beyond the Western-centric Sea Frontier; Part II. What was Global about the First Global Economy, 1500–c.1850?: 7. Countering the Neoliberal/Transformationalist Rejection of the First Global Economy: Un-veiling Global Structural Properties; 8. Countering the Fundamentalist-Marxist Rejection of the First Global Economy: Un-veiling Global Historical Capitalism; Part III. The First Global Economy in the Making of Modern Industrial Capitalism, 1500–1800: 9. The Global Atlantic-Production Driver and the Imperial Primitive Accumulation of British Capital; 10. The Global Atlantic-Consumption Driver and British Late-Developmental Agency in Global Uneven and Combined Development; Part IV: Differing 'Developmental Architectures' in Differing Global Contexts in the Second Great Divergence, 1600–1800: 11. Why Britain initiated a Cotton-Industrialization and why India and China did not; 12. Why Britain initiated an Iron and Steel Industrialization and why India and China did not; Part V. Rehabilitating and Provincializing Western Imperialism: Afro-Asians Inside and Outside the Shadow of Empire: 13. Multicultural Origins of the Second Global Economy: Un-veiling the 'Multicultural Contact Zone', C.1850–C.1940; 14. Varieties of Global Economy: From Historical Capitalism to Modern Capitalism, C.1500–2020.

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