Human rights, civil rights Books

Book SynopsisDrive critical, engaged learning. Helping learners more deeply understand historical concepts, the student-centred approach of this new Course Book enables broader, big picture understanding. Developed directly with the IB and fully supporting the new 2015 syllabus, the structured format helps you easily progress through the new course content.Table of Contents1. Case study 1: Apartheid South Africa (1948-1964) ; 1.1 Introduction to apartheid in South Africa ; 1.2 The nature and characteristics of discrimination ; 1.3 Protests and action ; 1.4 The role and significance of key individuals ; 2. Case Study 2: Civil Rights Movement in the United States (1954-1965) ; 2.1 Introduction to discrimination in the United States ; 2.2 Freedom Summer, 1964 ; 3. Internal Assessment ; 4. C

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this controversial volume, Wilson Jeremiah Moses argues that by adopting European and American nationalist and separatist doctrines, black nationalism became, ironically, a vehicle for the assimilationist values among black American intellectuals. The book covers the period from the Compromise of 1850, with its Fugitive Slave Act, to the imprisonment of Marcus Garvey in 1925, and inc ludes a section on black nationalism in literature.''This impressive study will stir controversy among black scholars and proponents of separatism. That Professor Moses, himself a black, regards the period a golden age is itself heretical in some eyes.'' Publishers WeeklyTrade Review"A well crafted, superbly researched, and immensely creative study of black intellectual history."--Alfred Moss, University of Maryland in the Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church "The book gives important information and a fresh look at many historical issues."--Paula Giddings, Essence "This impressive study will stir controversy among black scholars and proponents of separatism."--Publishers Weekly "Moses provides much information on: the anti-Catholic strain in black nationalist propaganda; the forerunners of Garvey; black women's clubs and their relationships to white feminists; how black nationalism echoed sentimental Christian racism."--Kirkus Reviews "Well written and significant."--CHOICE "Convincing and...well-written....Highly recommended for specialists in black studies."--Library Journal "This is an excellent book that fits my needs perfectly. The coverage is fine and the topical arrangement is great."--Robert T. Starks, Northeastern Illinois University

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplores the history of Palestinian collaboration with Israelis - and of the Arab resistance to it. This book focuses on the system of collaborators established by Israel in each and every Arab community after the 1948 war.Trade Review"Paints a remarkably balanced and comprehensive picture. It is a fascinating tale, but his account ... does not make for pleasant reading." Jerusalem Post "The book's power derives from its resonance for the present day, and the way that it illuminates the attitude that Israel has taken - and still takes - toward the Palestinians." The National "A fascinating study ... with revelations about the past that help explain later developments between the State and Israeli Arabs." Jewish Book World "Readers will be engaged and informed by his skillful narrative and analysis of a much-contended topic." -- Shalom Goldman The Historian "This is a very important study, scholarly yet accessible to all levels of readers." Assoc Of Jewish Libraries Nwsltr "Excellent book... Good Arabs achieves an unusual poignancy." The Jerusalem Report "This book sensitively and convincingly illuminates the complexity of life as an 'Israeli Arab'. -- Ilana Feldman American Historical Review "Highly recommended." Choice "This book was, understandably, a best-seller in Israel." Magill's Literary Annual / Salem PressTable of ContentsIllustrations Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Beginning a Beautiful Friendship: The Rise of the Collaborator Class 2. Communists vs. the Military Government, Collaborators vs. the Communists 3. Boundary Breakers: Infiltrators, Smugglers, Spies 4. The Land 5. The Battle of the Narrative: Symbols, Pronouncements, Teachers 6. Minorities within a Minority: Dilemmas of Identity 7. Circles of Control, Circles of Resistance Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn edition of Isaiah Berlin's classic of liberalism, "Four Essays on Liberty", this book incorporates a fifth essay, and adds further pieces on the same topic, so that Berlin's principal statements on liberty are available together. This book throws biographical light on Berlin's preoccupation with liberty in appendices drawn from his writings.Trade ReviewA magnificent and indispensable volume: the best introduction to the most important and enduring of Berlin's ideas. * John Gray *For anyone wishing to have the essence of Berlin's thinking, Liberty is the volume to have. * John Banville, Irish Times *'Liberty not only offers a comprehensive overview of Isaiah Berlin's main topics and ideas, but also enables us to understand the development and relevance of those ideas in the context of his personality. * Steffen Gross, Dialektik *Practically every paragraph introduces us to half a dozen new ideas and as many thinkers - the landscape flashes past, peopled with familiar and unfamiliar people, all arguing incessantly. It is all a very long way from the austere eloquence of Mill's marvellous essay On Liberty, with which this collection's title seems to challenge comparison; but it is a measure of the stature of these essays that they stand such a comparison. * Alan Ryan, New Society *These famous essays ... are informed by that radical humanism, in the truest sense of that impoverished word, which has attached Sir Isaiah so closely to such nineteenth century figures as Herzen and Mill ... * Philip Toynbee, Observer *Table of ContentsTHE EDITOR'S TALE; FIVE ESSAYS ON LIBERTY; OTHER WRITINGS ON LIBERTY; AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL APPENDICES; BERLIN AND HIS CRITICS BY IAN HARRIS; INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor half a century from its publication in 1901 Up from Slavery was the best known book written by an African American. The life of ex-slave Booker T. Washington embodied the legendary rise of the American self-made man, and his autobiography gave prominence for the first time to the voice of a group which had to pull itself up from extreme adversity. This edition includes detailed notes and a fascinating introduction which which puts Washington'sachievement in its historical context.

Read more less

Book SynopsisConcise and Abridged EditionDo we really have the right to say the wrong' thing?I strongly recommend this book. Hume is right that the current proliferation of trigger warnings is absurd' GuardianIn a fierce defence of free speech in all its forms Mick Hume's blistering polemic exposes the new threats facing us today in the historic fight for freedom of expression. In 2015, the cold-blooded attacks in Paris on the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists united the free-thinking world in proclaiming Je suis Charlie'. But it wasn't long before many were arguing that the massacres showed the need to restrict the right to be offensive. Meanwhile sensitive students are sheltered from potentially offensive material and Twitter vigilantes police those expressing the wrong' opinion. But the basic right being suppressed to be offensive, despite the problems it creates is not only acceptable but vital to society. Without a total freedom of expression, other liberties will not be possible.Trade Review‘Superb…This is a first-rate polemic and the most important political book of the year so far’ Rod Liddle ‘This is an important book, and couldn’t be more timely. It’s strong-minded, unafraid, determined to knock down all the various specious arguments against free speech, unapologetic about insisting on the value of free expression, and terrifically well argued. In these weak-minded times it’s good to have so uncompromising a defence’ Salman Rushdie ‘What this book does tremendously is pull off the neat trick of summing up just what the hell is going on out there on the great frontiers of speech, offence, liberty and people shouting at each other’ The Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisReveals the truth of how the United States conspired with Britain to forcibly expel Diego Garcia's indigenous people - the Chagossians - and deport them to slums in Mauritius and the Seychelles, where most live in dire poverty. This title chronicles the Chagossians' story as they struggle to survive in exile and fight to return to their homeland.Trade Review"[A] meticulously researched, coldly furious book that details precisely how London and Washington colluded in a scheme of population removal more redolent of the eighteenth or nineteenth century than the closing decades of the twentieth... [O]ne likes to think that if Barack Obama were somehow to stumble across a copy of David Vine's fine book, he would instantly realize that a great injustice has been done--one that could easily be put right."--Jonathan Freedland, New York Review of Books "This angry and angering book is well researched, compelling, and valuable to understanding and emerging US 'empire.'"--Choice "For Vine imperialism, military prerogative and racism have all combined to deny a people a home simply because they were in the way. His succinct style and controlled outrage make for a damning indictment."--Phil Chamberlain, Tribune "Island of Shame is not just a gut-wrenching account of how a tropical paradise of powder-white beaches and palm fronds was turned into a massive launch pad for America's military expansionist programme. A large chunk of the book is devoted to how the Chagossians came to build their complex but happy society in the islands and the resulting tragedy of their displacement. Above all, Vine is a top flight researcher... We owe Vine a great debt for shining his light on this island of horrors."--Latha Jishnu, Business Standard "David Vine's story of the Chagossians is an exemplary piece of both socially embedded reportage and investigative journalism, despite a tendency to indulge in the self-conscious idiom of academic ethnography and reflexive criticism of US 'imperialism.' At heart, however, he speaks truth to power. Power, though, is not listening."--Colin Murphy, Irish Times "David Vine ... has rendered high service by writing a thoroughly documented expose of the crime, which the world has ignored because one of its perpetrators is a superpower, the U.S., and its accomplice, the U.K."--A. G. Noorani, Frontline "Vine's important and timely book sheds welcome light on this dark chapter of U.S. military history, questioning the way our military operates and its impact on civilian populations."--Katherine McCaffrey, American AnthropologistTable of ContentsList of Illustrations and Tables ix Foreword by Michael Tigar xi Abbreviations and Initialisms xvii A Note to the Reader xix Introduction 1 Chapter 1. The Ilois, The Islanders 20 Chapter 2. The Bases of Empire 41 Chapter 3. The Strategic Island Concept and a Changing of the Imperial Guard 56 Chapter 4."Exclusive Control" 72 Chapter 5."Maintaining the Fiction" 89 Chapter 6."Absolutely Must Go" 99 Chapter 7."On the Rack" 112 Chapter 8. Derasine: The Impoverishment of Expulsion 126 Chapter 9. Death and Double Discrimination 137 Chapter 10. Dying of Sagren 149 Chapter 11. Daring to Challenge 164 Chapter 12. The Right to Return and a Humanpolitik 180 Epilogue 197 My Thanks 199 Further Resources 203 Notes 205 Afterword to the Paperback Edition 249 Index 255

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Astonishing, powerful, so important at this time'' - Margaret Atwood (on Twitter)''Riveting . . . intricate and surprising'' - The New York Times''Reading it will change you, perhaps forever'' - San Francisco ChronicleAn electrifying memoir set in the Salvadoran Civil War:the true story of a young poet who becomes an activist through a trial by fireCarolyn Forché, an American poet, is 27 when a mysterious stranger called Leonel appears on her doorstep, having driven direct from El Salvador. Her friend has heard rumours about who he might be - a communist, a CIA operative, a sharpshooter, a motorcycle racer, a revolutionary, a small coffee farmer - but nobody seems to know for certain. Captivated for reasons she doesn''t fully understand, she accepts his invitation to visit and learn about his country, and so becomes enmeshed in the early stages of a brutal civil conflict which will ultimately see the SalvTrade ReviewOnce Forché's story gathers momentum, it's hard to let the narrative go . . . Riveting . . . intricate and surprising * The New York Times *Indispensable . . . unflinching . . . Forché offers up a vast human landscape of terror, desperation and perseverance that stretches far beyond mere borders. It's more documentary than self-portrait, more camera than mirror. Reading it will change you, perhaps forever * San Francisco Chronicle *Gripping . . . 'I could just as well write my poetry from the quiet of my own study,' Forché writes, 'but I had known since childhood that human suffering demanded a response, everywhere and always.' A portrait of the artist as political and poetic ingenue, What You Have Heard Is True is just such a response, a riveting account of how she made good on that conviction. It bears eloquent witness to injustice and atrocity and to how observing them shaped a fearless poet * The Washington Post *Extraordinary . . . Written with a thriller writer's knack for narrative tension and a poet's gorgeous sentences and empathy . . . Though it took Forché half a lifetime to fully share what she saw - this time is also more cryptically recalled in her second book of poems, The Country Between Us (1982) - now is precisely when we need to see it * NPR *Her memoir traces her journey from political innocence to experience, and, in doing so, offers a model to others who might take the same journey . . . She remembers as much as possible, and the resulting memoir, once read, is difficult to forget * The Atlantic *Forché looks with a poet's acute grasp of sensory detail ... She meets priests, poets, campesinos, retired generals ... She runs from death squads, acknowledges American complicity in Salvadoran military's tactics, searches for the bodies of friends dumped on the black sand beaches. One can imagine this memoir being made into a film in the mould of The Killing Fields ... Written with great care, this clear-eyed memoir and its evocative black-and-white photos bear powerful witness to the atrocities committed by a government to repress its own impoverished citizens * Daily Telegraph *Forché ... writes with a startling, visceral clarity about grotesque events ... With her poems, and now with this exceptionally well-written and engrossing memoir, [Forché] has borne witness, remembered, tried to see. She has spent many years of her life telling the stories of El Salvador ... What You Have Heard Is True paints a stark, tangible and unforgettable picture of a nation descending into civil war and raises fascinating questions about the role of the observer ... Her writing has a way of scratching images into the memory * Daily Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA major new contribution to the study of African music, Soweto Blues tells the remarkable story of how jazz became a key part of South Africa's struggle in the 20th century, and provides a fascinating overview of the ongoing links between African and American styles of music.Trade Review"Through interviews with a multi-generational cast of literally hundreds of South African musicians, Gwen Ansell retells a story of political ferment, illegal shebeens, underground music, exile and, ultimately, triumph, while tracing the ongoing development of the music up to the current day. Soweto Blues is both valuable and fascinating, a must-read for serious fans of South-Africa music." - Global Rhythm, October 2004"The value of Ansell's text lies in the thoroughly comprehensive way in which she frames the lives of the South African artists who were brave enough to chant down apartheid." -Jazzwise, Kevin Le Gendre, March 2005"...a hard-hitting discussion of how apartheid impacted the lives of ordinary people and musicians alike-and how struggles against it fostered new roads in music.... Soweto Blues is well researched, intimate, and powerful: a ‘must' for any fan of South African music and history." -Library Bookwatch, 4/05"...a hard-hitting discussion of how apartheid impacted the lives of ordinary people and musicians alike-and how struggles against it fostered new roads in music.... Soweto Blues is well researched, intimate, and powerful: a ‘must' for any fan of South African music and history." -Library Bookwatch, 4/05"Soweto Blues is the book South African jazz lovers have been praying for. The book is conceived to be a useful resource to anyone interested in South African jazz—in South Africa and abroad—with varying levels of knowledge about the music. Soweto Blues was a long time in the making. With luck, it will inspire more people to explore the incredible jazz that has come out of South Africa." -- allaboutjazz.com, January 15, 2006"A comprehensive, informative, and essential companion to South African history. It illuminates the important link between history and culture, and in particular the role of artists in the transformation of South African society. Exquisitely researched and documented, Gwen Ansell's book is a labour of love and a gift to all South Africans."-Barbara Masekela, South African Ambassador to the United States"There's an immense amount of research behind each chapter, but this fascinating history is far from dry. What makes her rich politico-musical opus a joy to read is its anecdotal approach. The author lets the musicians talk [which] brings her pages to life and makes the whole book swing."-ThisDay (Johannesburg) -- Tom Rymour, ThisDay (Johannesburg) * Blurb from reviewer *"This book brings together in powerful co-existence the experiences of some of the greatest South African of the past 100 years. It is not only essential reading for all music students, music lovers and jazz aficionados, but also an important document about history and memory in South Africa. Carefully researched and vitalized by interviews, documentary evidence, and critical commentary, this book holds between its covers the many, sometimes contradictory, voices that have helped shape the society that South Africa is today. A moving and inspiring read, and a fine achievement."-Professor Christine Lucia,Chair of Music, School of the Arts, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa * Blurb from reviewer *"As guitarist Ray Chikapa Phiri states in reference to the anti-apartheid struggle, 'The music won'--eventually. Broadcaster, producer and author Gwen Ansell not only provides a great overview of that victorious struggle but also peels away the white-and-black curtains to show a society as diverse (ethnically and musically) as any on earth. As to be expected in a book about jazz and the blues, the U.S. figures prominently, from the storied visits of the Confederate warship Alabama to Capetown (and the "coon music" festivals it inspired) to U.S. South Africa musical collaborations with the lives of Paul Simon, etc. But this is undeniably the story of the music from the most critical perspective, the musicians', and their comments and testimonies liberally yet purposefuly intersperced throughout the book. Particularly compelling is the story of the music's role during the 'dead years' from the aftermath of the Sharpevilel massacre to democracy's beginnings a decade ago. The closing chapter illuminates the new battles being fought by and within the musical forces, such as social issues and identity questions, plus the traditional 'township' sound versus new directions. Whether as history lesson, music journal or social decument, the power of Soweto Blues is, like the music itself, inescapable. --Michael A. Edwards, Jazz Times (UK) 12/1/04 -- Michael A. Edwards * Blurb from reviewer *"Brilliant...the book is well written and those interested in learning about life under apartheid will appreciate its broad chronicling of this troubled time." -Choice, 3/05 * Choice *Table of ContentsIntroduction; Chapter 1: Where It All Started; Chapter 2: New Sounds of the Cities; Chapter 3: Athens on the Reef; Chapter 4: The Land is Dead; Chapter 5: Underground in Africa; Chapter 6: Jazz for the Struggle, and the Struggle for Jazz; Chapter 7: Home Is Where the Music Is: South African Jazz Abroad; Chapter 8: The 1990s and Beyond: Not Yet Uhuru; Appendix: Interviewees and Recordings; Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisA New Statesman most anticipated title of the year'Compelling.' David Lammy MPRefreshing,' Pragya AgarwalA powerful intervention roundly debunking the myth of progress in racial equality particularly in the workplace and offering a blueprint for the future.Have you ever wondered why, as Britain becomes more diverse, so many of our leaders come from the same narrow pool? Can it be acceptable in 2023 that there are no ethnic minority chief constables, only one CEO in the top 50 NHS Trusts and no permanent secretaries in the civil service?Nazir Afzal knows what it's like to break the glass ceiling, challenge prejudice and shake up predominantly white institutions. Born in Birmingham to first generation Pakistani immigrants, he was the first Muslim to be appointed as a Chief Crown Prosecutor and the most senior Muslim lawyer in the Crown Prosecution Service.His insights into the UK's relationship with race and power have driven him to demand answers to an age old question around Britain'Trade Review‘In Britain, talent has always lost out to privilege. Nazir Afzal’s compelling book challenges our country’s dated conception of meritocracy and teaches us how we can all win in the fight for equality.’ David Lammy MP ‘A powerful account of everyday racisms and why, if we are serious about a socially just society – the time for change must be now.’ Kalwant Bhopal, author of White Privilege: The myth of a post-racial society ‘Nazir Afzal highlights the gauntlet of racism ethnic minorities still face as they seek to make it to the top. Token improvement doesn't mean that wider society doesn't have work to do in becoming genuinely equal and fair.’ Angela Saini, author of Superior: The Return of Race Science 'A tour de force, containing engaging personal accounts alongside a thorough analysis of the road blocks and barriers that are endured by countless Black, Asian and other minority ethnic Britons. He also gives us all hope that we can change for the better.’ Baroness Louise Casey DBE CB 'This book shows us a clear-eyed picture of the present and offers a toolkit for the future, and in doing so offers hope and optimism. I found the writing clear, refreshing and emotional at times because it captures what so many of minority ethnic Brits have experienced in our professional lives. We have to take action now, urgently.' Pragya Agarwal, author of Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias ‘A must-read, offering informed solutions to the key problems of our time. The insights contained in the excellent book provide clues for resolution, or at least for a new level of understanding.’ Lord Alex Carlile CBE, QC ‘The authentic face of British Justice.’ The New York Times ‘Champion of the ignored.’ The Sunday Times ‘An inspiring figure, forensically intelligent.’ The Times ‘Afzal is not one to shy away from the failures of the state.’ New Statesman

Read more less

Book SynopsisInternational law lies at the heart of our interaction with the global community. It protects rights, imposes duties, and establishes a framework for the conduct of almost every social, political, and economic activity. Vaughan Lowe explains the basic structural principles of international law, and looks at its potential and its limitations.Trade Reviewworth reading * Maxamilian Bertamini, Journal of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict *Table of ContentsPREFACE; REFERENCES; FURTHER READING; INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis new study offers a fresh interpretation of apartheid South Africa. Emerging out of the author''s long-standing interests in the history of racial segregation, and drawing on a great deal of new scholarship, archival collections, and personal memoirs, he situates apartheid in global as well as local contexts. The overall conception of Apartheid, 1948-1994 is to integrate studies of resistance with the analysis of power, paying attention to the importance of ideas, institutions, and culture. Saul Dubow refamiliarises and defamiliarise apartheid so as to approach South Africa''s white supremacist past from unlikely perspectives. He asks not only why apartheid was defeated, but how it survived so long. He neither presumes the rise of apartheid nor its demise. This synoptic reinterpretation is designed to introduce students to apartheid and to generate new questions for experts in the field.Trade ReviewThis work is a first-rate, clearly written account of a bizarre 20th century political experiment. * Alexander du Toit, Times Higher Education *As a lecturer on modern South African history, I will find this book extremely valuable. It provides a strong, textured historical narrative and simultaneously engages critically in key conceptual debates. It is impressively up-to-date and draws on an immensely wide range of literature, much of which is helpfully laid out in a bibliographical annexure ... the book stands in any context as an important work of synthesis with a coherent, and sometimes controversial, set of arguments. * Clive Glaser, South African Historical Journal *Dubow's history emphasizes ideas and contexts, from global realities like the Cold War to philosophical, theological, and theoretical debates. It is a superb, easily readable, book that offers a comprehensive historical overview and nuanced analysis. * Fran Buntman, American Historical Review *Apartheid 19481994 is relevant for a broad audience. * Melanie Boehi, H-Soz-Kult *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. The Apartheid Election, 1948 ; 2. The Consolidation of Apartheid ; 3. Sharpeville and its Aftermath ; 4. Apartheid Regnant ; 5. The Opposition Destroyed ; 6. Cracks within the System ; 7. The Limits and Dangers of Reform ; 8. A Balancing of Forces ; 9. Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis special issue of the Journal of Human Rights and the Environment revisits Professor Christopher D. Stone's iconic 1972 article, and features an introduction by Professor Philippe Sands QC, a set of elegant and thought-provoking reflections on the original article by Baroness Mary Warnock, Professor Ngaire Naffine and Professor Lorraine Code, and an equally elegant and thought-provoking response to their reflections from Professor Stone himself. This thoughtful collection of essays will be a valuable addition to contemporary debates concerning the crucial search for new relationships between humanity and the living world and between human rights and the environment. The renowned contributors offer rich reflections on questions of legal standing, legal subjectivity and epistemology raised by Stone's article, and which have greater salience than ever as we face the environmental and human challenges of the 21st century. Contributors: L. Code, A. Grear, N. Naffine, P. Sands, C.D. Stone, M. WarnockTable of ContentsContents: Editorial Should Trees Have Standing: 40 Years On? Anna Grear Foreword On Being 40: A Celebration of ‘Should Trees Have Standing?’ Philippe Sands Articles Should Trees Have Standing? Toward Legal Rights for Natural Objects Christopher D Stone Should Trees Have Standing? Mary Warnock Legal Personality and the Natural World: On the Persistence of the Human Measure of Value Ngaire Naffine Ecological Responsibilities: Which Trees? Where? Why? Lorraine Code Response to Commentators Christopher D Stone

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand history - and then go out and change it'' Barack Obama''The authentic voice of Mandela shines through this book'' The Times''Burns with the luminosity of faith in the invincible nature of human hope and dignity'' Andre Brink''Splendid... This is his story and the story of that struggle and a people''s victory'' Desmond TutuThe riveting memoirs of the outstanding moral and political leader of our time, Long Walk to Freedom brilliantly re-creates the drama of the experiences that helped shape Nelson Mandela''s destiny. Emotive, compelling and uplifting, Long Walk to Freedom is the exhilarating story of an epic life; a story of hardship, resilience and ultimate triumph told with the clarity and eloquence of a born leader.Trade ReviewEssential reading for anyone who wants to understand history - and then go out and change it * Barack Obama *Enthralling...Mandela emulates the few great political leaders such as Lincoln and Gandhi, who go beyond mere consensus and move out ahead of their followers to break new ground * Sunday Times *The authentic voice of Mandela shines through this book...humane, dignified and magnificently unembittered * The Times *This life of a man who has been a political activist for fifty years, in one of the most difficult and complex conflicts of the twentieth century, is a major achievement * Observer *Riveting...both a brilliant description of a diabolical system and a testament to the power of the spirt to transcend it * Washington Post *Burns with the luminosity of faith in the invincible nature of human hope and dignity... Unforgettable * Andre Brink *Indispensable ... a unique life-story * Anthony Sampson *A splendid book... Justice, freedom, goodness and love have prevailed spectacularly in South Africa and one man has embodied that struggle and its vindication. This is his story and the story of that struggle and a people's victory. It is a fitting monument. It will help us never to forget, lest we in our turn repeat the ghastliness of apartheid * Desmond Tutu *A truly stunning account of his extraordinary life... A vivid testimony to an unusual mixture of courage, persistence, tolerance, and forgiveness * Sir David Steel *One of the most life-affirming books you'll read * GQ *A tale of anger and sorrow, love and joy, grace and elegance * Daily News *The autobiography succeeds because the vicissitudes Mandela has gone through in the course of his life are so dramatic that the reader cannot help responding to them as if to a fairy tale or moral fable of some kind. No hero of legend ever went through such protracted trials in order to arrive at so improbable a victory * Sunday Telegraph *A compelling book... both a brilliant description of a diabolical system and a testament to the power of the spirit to transcend it... One of the most remarkable lives of the twentieth century * Washington Post *A work of literature as well as an important document * Scotland on Sunday *Most searing in its portrayal of the harshness of the island prison and the author's yearning for family life... Most exciting in its descriptions of Mandela's period underground, including his clandestine journey through newly independent Africa -- Barbara Trapido * Spectator *An engrossing tapestry of recent South African history that grips the reader from the first pages... Riveting and sometimes painfully honest * San Francisco Chronicle *Mandela writes with rare and moving candour * The Economist *Long Walk to Freedom is, unexpectedly, a sociological treasure trove... a work of constant revelations -- Wole Soyinka * Times Higher Education Supplement *Irresistible... one of the few political biographies that's also a page-turner * Los Angeles Times *Absorbing reading... the work of a great politician who still retains the ability to reflect on himself as a mere mortal -- Beverley Naidoo * Times Educational Supplement *A story that is at once appalling and inspirational: appalling in its depiction of the waste of human potential; inspirational in the triumph of the human spirit -- Geoffrey Howe * Country Life *An enthralling tale told simply, the story of one man's remarkable life and of a people which finally became free * Sunday Tribune *One of those masterpieces, perhaps the greatest of twentieth-century autobiographical literature, which is a sharp, poignant, elegant and eloquent counter to the prevailing cynicism about the rottenness of politics * Caribbean Times *One of the most extraordinary political tales of the twentieth century and well worth the investment for anyone truly interested in the genesis of greatness * Financial Times *An epic of struggle and learning and growing, it tells of a man whose idealism and hope have inspired a world prone to cynicism... [it] should be compulsory reading -- Mary Benson * Daily Telegraph *This fluid memoir matches South African President Mandela's stately grace with wise reflection on his life and the freedom struggle that defined it... His belief in repairing his country inspires * Publishers Weekly *This is an articulate, moving account of Mandela's life...Over a third of Mandela's memoir tells of his twenty-seven years in prison, an account that could stand alone as a prison narrative. He ends his book with the conclusion that his 'long walk' for freedom has just begun * Library Journal *This memoir is remarkably free of polemics, self-pity, and self-aggrandizement. It is the work of a man who has led by action and example-a man who is one of the few genuine heroes we have * Kirkus *

Read more less

Book SynopsisPulling back the curtain on patriarchy's current workings to reveal not only blatant sexism, but complicity and tokenism dressed up as modernisation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisReckoning with one's role in perpetuating systematic inequality, Bruce Robbins examines the implications of a humanitarianism in which the prosperous are the both the cause and the beneficiaries of the abhorrent conditions they seek to remedy.Trade Review"In The Beneficiary, Bruce Robbins wants to make room for the note of guilt in our songs of gratitude. Who is a beneficiary? Robbins’s answer is that it is probably you. . . . Perhaps in the future tallying up the planetary cost of national happiness will become so painful we’ll give up that thought experiment altogether. But if Robbins has his way, we’ll not only still be thinking globally — we’ll live in a world that makes doing so tolerable." -- Christina Lupton * Los Angeles Review of Books *"The Beneficiary succeeds brilliantly in focusing its readers on the urgencies of our time." -- Michael Rothberg * Contemporary Literature *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1. The Starving Child 15 2. You Acquiesce In It: George Orwell on the System 33 3. A Short History of Commodity Recognition 51 4. The Nation-State as Agent of Cosmopolitanism 75 5. Naomi Klein's Love Story 93 6. Life Will Win 117 Conclusion: You Can't Handle the Truth 139 Notes 155 Bibliography 169 Index 177

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the third edition of his classic work, revised extensively and updated to include recent developments on the international scene, Jack Donnelly explains and defends a richly interdisciplinary account of human rights as universal rights. He shows that any conception of human rights—and the idea of human rights itself—is historically specific...Trade ReviewEvery once in a while a book appears that treats the leading issues of a subject in such a clear and challenging manner that it becomes central to understanding that subject. Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice is just such a book. Donnelly's interpretations are clear and argued with zest. * American Political Science Review *This wide-ranging book looks at all aspects of human rights, drawing on political theory, sociology, and international relations as well as international law. * Foreign Affairs *What Donnelly does better than anyone else is to lay before the reader a coherent conceptual framework for an understanding of international human rights as an operative part of international life. The book remains at the top of any bibliography of indispensable books dealing with human rights. * Human Rights & Human Welfare *Table of ContentsPreface to the Third EditionIntroductionPart I. Toward a Theory of Human Rights1. The Concept of Human RightsHow Rights WorkSpecial Features of Human RightsHuman Nature and Human RightsHuman Rights and Related PracticesAnalytic and Substantive TheoriesThe Failure of Foundational AppealsCoping with Contentious Foundations2. The Universal Declaration ModelThe Universal DeclarationThe Universal Declaration ModelHuman Dignity and Human RightsIndividual RightsInterdependence and IndivisibilityThe State and International Human RightsRespecting, Protecting, and Providing Human RightsRealizing Human Rights and Human Dignity3. Economic Rights and Group RightsThe Status of Economic and Social RightsGroup Rights and Human Rights4. Equal Concern and RespectHegemony and Settled NormsAn Overlapping Consensus on International Human RightsMoral Theory, Political Theory, and Human RightsEqual Concern and RespectToward a Liberal Theory of Human RightsConsensus: Overlapping but BoundedPart II. The Universality and Relativity of Human Rights5. A Brief History of Human RightsPolitics and Justice in the Premodern Non-Western WorldThe Premodern WestThe Modern Invention of Human RightsThe American and French RevolutionsApproaching the Universal DeclarationExpanding the Subjects and Substance of Human Rights6. The Relative Universality of Human Rights"Universal" and "Relative"The Universality of Internationally Recognized Human RightsThree Levels of Universality and ParticularityRelative Universality: A Multidimensional Perspective7. Universality in a World of ParticularitiesCulture and the Relativity of Human RightsAdvocating Universality in a World of ParticularitiesPart III. Human Rights and Human Dignity8. Dignity: Particularistic and Universalistic Conceptions in the WestDignitas: The Roman Roots of DignityBiblical Conceptions: Kavod and Imago DeiKantRights and Dignity in the WestDignity and the Foundations of Human Rights9. Humanity, Dignity, and Politics in Confucian ChinaCosmology and EthicsConfucians and the Early Empires“Neo-Confucianism” and Song Imperial RuleTwentieth-Century Encounters with “Rights”Human Rights and Asian Values10. Humans and Society in Hindu South AsiaCosmologySocial PhilosophyCasteHindu UniversalismOpposition to Caste DiscriminationHinduism and Human Rights in Contemporary IndiaPart IV. Human Rights and International Action11. International Human Rights RegimesThe Global Human Rights RegimePolitical Foundations of the Global RegimeRegional Human Rights RegimesSingle-Issue Human Rights RegimesAssessing Multilateral Human Rights MechanismsThe Evolution of Human Rights Regimes12. Human Rights and Foreign PolicyHuman Rights and the National InterestInternational Human Rights and National IdentityMeans and Mechanisms of Bilateral ActionThe Aims of Human Rights PolicyForeign Policy and Human Rights PolicyThe Limits of International ActionAppendix: Arguments against International Human Rights PoliciesPart V. Contemporary Issues13. Human Rights, Democracy, and DevelopmentThe Contemporary Language of LegitimacyDefining DemocracyDemocracy and Human RightsDefining DevelopmentDevelopment-Rights TradeoffsDevelopment and Civil and Political RightsMarkets and Economic and Social RightsThe Liberal Democratic Welfare State14. The West and Economic and Social RightsThe Universal Declaration of Human RightsDomestic Western PracticeThe International Human Rights CovenantsFunctional and Regional OrganizationsFurther Evidence of Western SupportUnderstanding the Sources of the MythWhy Does It Matter?15. Humanitarian Intervention against GenocideIntervention and International LawHumanitarian Intervention and International LawThe Moral Standing of the StatePolitics, Partisanship, and International OrderChanging Conceptions of Security and SovereigntyJustifying the Anti-genocide NormChanging Legal Practices“Justifying” Humanitarian InterventionMixed Motives and ConsistencyPolitics and the Authority to InterveneJudging the Kosovo InterventionDarfur and the Future of Humanitarian Intervention16. Nondiscrimination for All: The Case of Sexual MinoritiesThe Right to NondiscriminationNondiscrimination and Political StruggleDiscrimination against Sexual MinoritiesNature, (Im)morality, and Public MoralsStrategies for InclusionPaths of Incremental ChangeReferencesIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewGroundbreaking. In the first detailed description of Stalin's mass terror, Vatlin unfolds the day-to-day working of the Soviet political police who carried out orders to select, arrest, interrogate, and often murder their fellow citizens. An absorbing, heartrending account."" - David Shearer, author of Policing Stalin's Socialism""A sensationally significant, detailed microhistory of Stalin's Great Terror, based on the criminal files of NKVD agents who were arrested as scapegoats at the end of the terror—what some historians have called the purge of the purgers."" - Lynne ViolaTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword by Oleg Khlevniuk Preface to the English-Language Edition Introduction to the English-Language Edition by Seth Bernstein List of Abbreviations Introduction: Why Kuntsevo? Setting the Stage Part I. Executors of Terror Part II. Patterns of Victimization Epilogue: New Kuntsevo Forgets the Past Notes Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHugo Blanc is Peru's best-known revolutionary. A leader of the indigenous people of the Andes, he was born in 1934 in Cusco, the former Inca capital. He is a lifelong environmental campaigner in defence of the natural riches of the Andean region and beyond.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA reissue of E. E. Cummings's long-unavailable, yet pointed and moving story of a journey through Soviet Russia.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Fierce, fresh and feminist, Fern Riddell tells the story of Suffragette Kitty Marion in a way that fizzes and shocks. Exciting, twisty and very very timely.'' Lucy WorsleyIn Death in Ten Minutes Fern Riddell uncovers the story of radical suffragette Kitty Marion, told through never before seen personal diaries in Kitty''s own hand. Kitty Marion was sent across the country by the Pankhurst family to carry out a nationwide campaign of bombings and arson attacks, as women fought for the vote using any means necessary. But in the aftermath of World War One, the dangerous and revolutionary actions of Kitty and other militant suffragettes were quickly hushed up and disowned by the previously proud movement, and the women who carried out these attacks were erased from our history. Now, for the first time, their untold story will be brought back to life.Telling a new history of the women''s movement in the light of new and often shocking revelTrade ReviewFierce, fresh and feminist, Fern Riddell tells the story of Suffragette Kitty Marion in a way that fizzes and shocks. Exciting, twisty and very very timely. * Lucy Worsley *Passionate and brilliant, a compelling portrait of an extraordinary woman in extraordinary times. * Richard Osman *A compelling, passionate and timely account of a fierce and extraordinary woman. In 2018, Kitty Marion's story is required reading. * Helen Castor *A brilliant political biography of the dangerous, dramatic and uncompromisingly political life of an incredible woman. Viscerally written this book is a powerful reminder that women were not given the vote, they demanded it and took it by force as much as by persuasion. * David Olusoga *Fern has brought to life the drama and tension of suffragette attacks in early 20th century Britain. Never before have I thought of the noise, colour, sounds, smells and sensations of fighting for women's rights to the vote, sexual and legal freedoms. She creates a textured tapestry of bustling streets and a myriad of personalities, amidst which devastating bomb attacks are given a potency so often eroded from history books. The world needs more books like this - books that challenge where we are now, and the brave, dangerous, fascinating women who got us here. * Janina Ramirez *The tale this book tells is as explosive as its title. Riddell's vivid prose follows this unsung heroine in her fight for birth control and suffrage. * Independent *An exhilarating slice of incredibly relevant history. Highly recommended. * Matt Haig *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter their parents rose up against the excesses of the Shah, increasing numbers of young Iranians are risking jail for things their counterparts in the West take for granted. Here, the author who spent his youth amidst the turbulence of the Islamic Revolution, argues that Iran's youth are in near-open revolt for want of greater personal freedom.Trade Review'A detailed insider's view of Iran's recent history and its impact on the new generation that is both entertaining and thought provoking.' Jordan Times 'Fascinating and highly readable ... with his vivid style and eye for detail, [Basmenji] takes the reader right inside Iranian society.' The Saudi Gazette 'An accurate account of Iranian society, history and culture...easy to read, and full of enlightening commentaries on personalities, events and trends.' Middle East Journal

Read more less

Book SynopsisTraces the major trends in scientific and intellectual understandings of "race" from the Middle AgesTrade Review"Add[s] a needed dimension to the study of race in political science that I hope scholars beyond the field of theory will take to heart." * Perspectives on Politics *"An indispensable book. The Rise and Fall of the Caucasian Race takes the study of whiteness to a new level both historically and theoretically. No previous study of the familiar racial category-& white-has attained such global breadth and analytical depth. It remedies a significant gap in the social scientific study of race, providing an intellectual history of whiteness that is both erudite and accessible." -- Howard Winant,author of The New Politics of Race: Globalism, Difference, Justice"Clearly and stylishly written and argued. . . well-supported by wide-ranging research and striking knowledge. . . . The Rise and Fall of the Caucasian Race ranges across centuries and continents and moves from intellectual to political and social history gracefully." -- David Roediger,author of The Wages of Whiteness: Race and the Making of the American Working Class"In charting the course of the 'Caucasian race' from a despised, barely European peoples to a scientific classification for white identity, Bruce Baum illuminates the socially constructed nature of race and the role of science in shaping it. His analysis of the changing fortunes of this curious concept demonstrates that even scientific inquiry is deeply influenced by the social and political assumptions of its time. By showing that the Caucasian race is a product of power rather than a racial group descended from the Caucasus region, The Rise and Fall of the Caucasian Race makes an important contribution to the study of race and whiteness." -- Joel Olson,author of The Abolition of White Democracy"In racial discourse, the term & Caucasian has always had a scientific aura and a prestige elevated above that of the simpler colloquial 'white.' Bruce Baum's fascinating and extensively researched genealogy of the concept and its subsequent career provides an eye-opening history of the utter bogusness of these pretensions. As such, the book is not merely an invaluable addition to the recent & whiteness literature and a documentation of the myriad shifting possibilities of racialization, but a salutary reminder of the political economy that always underlies the category & race." -- Charles W. Mills,author of The Racial ContractTable of ContentsPreface Introduction: "Caucasians"and the Political History of Racial Identities * 1 Before the "Caucasian Race": Antecedents of European Racialism, ca. 1000-1684 * 2 Enlightenment Science and the Invention of the "Caucasian Race," 1684-1795 * 3 Passage into "Our Ordinary Forms of Expression": The "Caucasian Race," ca. 1795-1850 * 4 Racialized Nationalism and the Partial Eclipse of the "Caucasian Race," ca. 1840-1935 * 5 The Color Line and the "Caucasian Race" Revival, 1935-51 * 6 Not-so-Benign Racialism: The "Caucasian Race" after Decolonization, 1952-2005 * 7 "Where Caucasian Means Black": "Race," Nation, and the Chechen Wars Conclusion: Deconstructing "Caucasia," Dismantling Racism Notes Index About the Author

Read more less

Book SynopsisScottsboro, Alabama, which consists of 118 exceptionally powerful linoleum prints, provides a unique graphic history of one of the most infamous, racially-charged episodes in the annals of the American judicial system, and of the racial and class struggle of the time. With a foreword by Robin D.G. Kelley.Trade Review"A stunning artifact, Scottsboro, Alabamas narrative and images capture the tragedy of race in the American South. I haven't seen anything this tersely powerful in years." -- Nell Irvin Painter,author of Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol"Wow! This is political art at its most powerful. These evocative images outrage and provoke, leaving an indelible impression of an unjust world at an unjust time. Scottsboro, Alabama will incite you to join the struggle for racial equality and justice." -- Alan Dershowitz,author of Supreme Injustice"This extraordinary graphic book from 1935 reproduces 118 linocuts illustrating the history of African Americans up to and including the Scottsboro trials… the reproductions are excellent, and Lee and Robin D.G. Kelley provide background essays on the trials and the provenance of the book. A welcome addition to all collections… highly recommended." * Library Journal,starred review *"Scottsboro, Alabama...provides a unique graphic history of one of the most infamous, racially-charged episodes in the annals of American justice." * New Voice of New York *"The prints have tremendous visual power...they constitute a progenitor of the contemporary graphic novel that artistically outclasses most current examples of the genre." * Booklist (July 2002) *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt once a memoir, a call to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, and an argument for queer solidarity across borders, this book tells the story of how novelist and activist Sarah Schulman's became aware of how issues of the Israeli occupation of Palestine were tied to her own gay and lesbian politics.Trade Review"Al-Shulman has written an honest, warm, and moving book. This is a book about how the political heart expands to encompass the rights of queers and the rights of Palestinians, the rights of you and the rights of me, the rights of individuals and the rights of collectivities. This vision is neither stingy nor utopian, but deeply realistic. A must-read."—Vijay Prashad, author of Uncle Swami: South Asians in America Today"This is a great book, brave, and compassionate. A journey of discovery, a coming of age, and more important, a search for justice. Our world is a better place for its existence. Read it, please."—Rabih Alameddine, author of The Hakawati"This is an extraordinary, challenging, and moving book. It is both an honest account of the work Sarah Schulman had to do to allow the full reality of the occupation of Palestine to be registered in her consciousness, and a story—told firmly yet gently, with patience and care—of the shared labor of building activist worlds on occupied grounds. We embark on a journey with Sarah Schulman and many other activists, from Palestine, the U.S. and beyond, as they persist in the effort to make the liberation of Palestine essential to queer politics. We follow their footsteps, we trace the paths; we hear the conversations; we share the meals. If activism involves hard often painstaking work, if it involves mundane and ordinary tasks, we learn that it can also create connections that nourish and sustain. I hope this book becomes a teacher. I hope we join the invitation to become part of a new queer international where liberation for all is the common goal."—Sara Ahmed, author of On Being Included: Racism and Diversity in Institutional Life“Solidarity, reciprocity, and recognition here reinforce each other, broadening the range of human rights that each movement affirms. The queer activist learns about colonialism and the anti-occupation activist learns about feminism. It is a remarkable testament to the value of the risk that Schulman ran in agreeing to deny her lesbian and gay constituency in Israel in favour of a broader human rights agenda in which their rights too might find validation and defence.” -- Gerry Kearns * Dubin Review of Books *“Written with verve and grace, Israel/ Palestine and the Queer International is eye-opening, courageous, investigative, an activists’ how-to manual, and a shining example of the best in contemporary gay liberation thinking of the sort we have come to expect from Sarah Schulman. The book is by turns hard-headed (in the best sense), clear-sighted, and tender and moving.” -- Doug Ireland * Gay City News *“[A] provocative argument against Israel’s recent attempt to market itself as a gay tourist destination. . . . [H]er skepticism regarding power is bracing. Schulman not only upends many of her own unquestioned assumptions, she also clarifies the connection between seemingly innocuous acts, like an effusive travel-section article extolling Tel Aviv’s gay-friendly cafes, and imperialism, racial prejudice and class struggle.” -- Raymond Simon * Philadelphia Weekly *“[Schulman] eloquently and cogently describes how her awareness and transformation happened. She presents interesting stories about the queer Palestinians she meets, and bonds with, including anti-occupation activists, as well as details about the unique coming-out process for Palestinians.” -- Gary Kramer * Philadelphia Gay News *“Schulman offers an honest and unflinching look at her step-by-step process for challenging her own biases. It's courageous work, and something we don't see nearly enough of, especially when it comes to hot-button issues.” -- Kel Munger * Colorado Springs Independent *“Schulman’s ‘willful ignorance regarding Israel and Palestine’ is both acknowledged and interrogated through her own self-questioning and activism in this concise yet powerful activist-roman. . . . Is homonationalism the activist’s cry of the 21st century? Are you ready to interrogate your privilege? It is this call to acknowledge and interrogate our privilege and our ignorance that concludes Schulman’s fine work. . . .” -- Marcie Bianco * Lambda Literary Review *“Schulman’s greatest strength in this moving accuont of her politicization around Palestine is her personal exploration of how Jewish historical trauma is linked to the Israeli oppression of Palestinians. . . . This powerful narrative will be particularly helpful for folks struggling to understand the intersection of Jewish identity, queerness, and anti-occupation work.” -- Wendy Elisheva Somerson * Bitch *“A great introduction to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and to the role of queers in that struggle. Schulman offers a thoughtful, if somewhat uneven, presentation of the relationship between the two struggles, the impact of identity politics, and the devastation caused by colonialism and nationalism. She has generously taken us on her journey of self-examination and inspires others to do the same.” -- Jody Raphael * Women's Review of Books *"Israel/Palestine and the Queer International offers an insightful, critical and personal interpretation of the issues surrounding movements to divest from Israel, boycott Israel’s official economy and draw attention to Israel’s supposed pinkwashing. As always, Schulman’s writing is sophisticated, intelligent and yet accessible." -- David Gorshein * Journal of Modern Jewish Studies *“I am hopeful that Schulman's book can help more queer folks understand the link between queer issues and Palestine solidarity, as well as how to combat pinkwashing efforts. This book can help us learn how to respond to arguments that use the concepts of dialogue, discrimination, and diversity to promote a narrow vision of gay rights aligned with state rights. By insisting on a power analysis as part of her critique of global politics, Schulman demands that we consider who is being excluded when we focus on the ‘safety’ and ‘rights’ of some LGBT folks without linking these rights to anti-colonial struggle.” -- Wendy Elisheva Somerson * Tikkun *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction: Before 1 Part I. Solidarity Visit 1. Awareness 23 2. Preparation: Learning from Cinema 40 3. Maps 48 4. The Jewish Embrace 58 5. Solidarity Visit 67 6. Palestine 77 7. Finding the Strategy 86 Part II. Al-U.S. Tour 8. Homonationalism 103 9. Amreeka 133 10. Backlash 156 11. Understanding 172 Conclusion: There Is No Conclusion 175 Appendix; Brand Israel and Pinkwashing: A Documentary Guide 179 Index 187

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘There are few historical developments more significant than the realisation that those in power should not be free to torture and abuse those who are not.’ – Amal Clooney On 10 December 1948, in Paris, the United Nations General Assembly adopted an extraordinarily ground-breaking and important proclamation: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This milestone document, made up of thirty Articles, sets out, for the first time, the fundamental human rights that must be protected by all nations. The full text of the document is reproduced in this book following a foreword by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and a general introduction which explores its origins in the ‘Four Freedoms’ described by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the role his wife Eleanor Roosevelt took on as chair of the Human Rights Commission and of the drafting committee, and the parts played by other key international members of the Commission. It was a pioneering achievement in the wake of the Second World War and continues to provide a basis for international human rights law, making this document’s aims ‘as relevant today as when they were first adopted a lifetime ago.’

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver much of its rule, the regime of Hafez al-Asad and his successor Bashar al-Asad deployed violence on a massive scale to maintain its grip on political power. In this book, Salwa Ismail examines the rationalities and mechanisms of governing through violence. In a detailed and compelling account, Ismail shows how the political prison and the massacre, in particular, developed as apparatuses of government, shaping Syrians'' political subjectivities, defining their understanding of the terms of rule and structuring their relations and interactions with the regime and with one another. Examining ordinary citizens'' everyday life experiences and memories of violence across diverse sites, from the internment camp and the massacre to the family and school, The Rule of Violence demonstrates how practices of violence, both in their routine and spectacular forms, fashioned Syrians'' affective life, inciting in them feelings of humiliation and abjection, and infusing their lived environment wiTrade Review'In this highly original, but also deeply disturbing book Salwa Ismail has captured superbly the daily and the spectacular acts of violence that have marked Ba`thist rule in Syria. The cumulative effects of dread, fear and horror on the Syrian subject, conformist as well as resistant, are at the centre of this account, giving a unique insight into the conditions that have torn the country apart.' Charles Tripp, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London'The Rule of Violence offers a sophisticated, innovative and powerful examination of the manifold ways in which violence shaped modern Syria. Ismail's theoretically engaged and richly informed narrative traces the deep impact on Syria's citizens of state violence, from the intimate horrors of prison torture and the mass atrocities of the 1982 devastation of Hama to the brutal wars following the uprising of 2011. Ranging from politics and war to literature and popular culture, it stands as a critical contribution to our understanding of the deep legacies of authoritarian state violence.' Marc Lynch, The George Washington University, and author of The New Arab Wars: Anarchy and Uprising in the Middle East'This is a masterful account of how 'horror' came to be a central mode of governance in Syria under the Asad regime. Salwa Ismail's skilful scholarship expands our understanding of state violence through shifting focus to its affective dimensions in both the spectacular and the everyday. This is a powerful and utterly compelling book, a must read for students of Syria and authoritarianism.' Michelle Obeid, University of ManchesterTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; Introduction: the government of violence; 1. Violence as a modality of government in Syria; 2. Authoritarian government, the shadow state and political subjectivities; 3. Memories of life under dictatorship: the everyday of Ba'thist Syria; 4. Memories of violence: Hama 1982; 5. The performativity of violence and 'emotionalities of rule' in the Syrian Uprising; Conclusion: the rule of violence – formations of civil war; Postscript; References; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this eloquent and blistering rejection of surrogacy, a range of international activists and experts in the field outline the fundamental human rights abuses that occur when surrogacy is legalised and reject neoliberal notions that the commodification of women’s bodies can ever be about the ‘choices’ women make. Yoshie Yanagihara shows how feminist ideas have been twisted to extend men’s freedom and their rights to access surrogacy. Catherine Lynch rails against surrogacy as the creation of babies for the express purpose of removal from their mothers, outlining the tragic outcomes for adopted people. Phyllis Chesler argues that commercial surrogacy is matricidal, “slicing and dicing biological motherhood” into egg donor, ‘gestational’ mother and adoptive mother. Melissa Farley debunks the myth of ‘choice’ in surrogacy, arguing that in a male-dominated and racist system, the exploitative sale of women in surrogacy, like in prostitution, is inherently harmful —rich women do not make the choice to become surrogates or prostitutes. Other contributors to this book, which is published in conjunction with the International Coalition for the Abolition of Surrogate Motherhood, are Gena Corea, Renate Klein, Gary Powell, Rita Banerji, Marie-Josèphe Devillers, Laura Isabel Gómez García, Alexandra Clément-Saby, Taina Bien-Aimé, Silvia Guerini, Laura Nuño Gómez and Eva Maria Bachinger.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJaki Seroke, the political struggle veteran was tortured and sentenced to twelve years in Robben Island. The Pan Africanist was in the underground movement of the PAC, criss-crossing the country as a courier between the exiles and the home front. In later years he emerged as a delegate at the CODESA. This is a memoir of a foot soldier.

Read more less

Book SynopsisElgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. This thought-provoking introduction provides an incisive overview of dignity law, a field of law emerging in every region of the globe that touches all significant aspects of the human experience. Through an examination of the burgeoning case law in this area, James R. May and Erin Daly reveal a strong overlapping consensus surrounding the meaning of human dignity as a legal right and a fundamental value of nations large and small, and how this global jurisprudence is redefining the relationship between individuals and the state. Key features include: Analyses of cases from a range of jurisdictions all over the world A history of the shift of the concept of dignity from a philosophical idea to a legally enforceable right Discussion of dignity as a value and a right in different major legal contexts, and its roots in African, Asian, European and Islamic traditions. This Advanced Introduction will be invaluable to scholars and students of law, particularly those interested in human rights, looking to understand this emerging area of law. It will inform lawyers, judges, policymakers and other advocates interested in how dignity and the law can be used to protect everyone, including the most vulnerable among us. Trade Review'This book offers a compelling introduction to human dignity, the organizing constitutional idea of the postwar era. Reaching beyond western religion, philosophy, and constitutional law, May and Daly expound an idea that is global in its reach and transformative in its ramifications. This book will be of interest to anyone seeking to understand what a legal order that lived up to the demands of human dignity might look like.' --Jacob Weinrib, Queen's University Faculty of Law, Canada'This book is a very complete contribution to the meaning of dignity seen as a universal value and right, with important insights on legal doctrine and policies all over the world. It demonstrates that, inherent to all of us, dignity implies that every single human being must always be treated as a person.' --Paul Cassia, University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, France'With this Advanced Introduction to Human Dignity and Law, Professors James R. May and Erin Daly deliver a global perspective on this ''very important idea''. A mine of legal materials gathered from around the world, this volume brings together essential knowledge on human dignity in a concise and engaging manner. Buzzing with energy, Professor May and Professor Daly's Advanced Introduction is a must read for all those promoting dignity rights, as well as all those curious about the great adventure of humanity and democracy.' --Catherine Dupré, University of Exeter, UKTable of ContentsContents: 1. A very brief overview of a very important idea 2. Dignity and Human Rights 3. An Emerging Overlapping Consensus on the Meaning of Dignity Under Law 4. The Value of A Life: Intrinsic Worth, Agency, and Autonomy 5. The Life of the Mind: Intellectual and Emotional Integrity 6. Living With Dignity 7. Towards a Democratic Theory of Dignity Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTaking everyday practices and interactions as their focus, contributors draw on various theoretical perspectives to examine how tensions between humanitarianism and security are negotiated at the local level. They thus show how asylum seekers are produced as suspicious subjects by the very systems to which they appeal for protection.Trade Review“Haas and Shuman aim to clarify how asylum systems are not simply political and legal institutions but ones driven by sociocultural (sociomoral) norms, and succeed very well. Both convincing and convicting, this is a timely and necessary book.”“This is an original and much-needed collection. Haas and Shuman bring together qualitative, largely ethnographic research that is incredibly rich and offers insight into particular localities of the asylum system that do not often emerge in scholarship, such as the roles of interpreters, immigration officers, and aid workers.”

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn September 1965, Filipino and Mexican American farm workers went on strike against grape growers in and around Delano, California. The strike became a movement for social justice that helped redefine Latino and American politics. Based on first-hand reportage and interviews, this book illuminates a moment of unusually significant social ferment.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWho is the ''Devil''? And what is he due? The Devil is anyone who disagrees with you. And what he is due is the right to speak his mind. He must have this for your own safety''s sake because his freedom is inextricably tied to your own. If he can be censored, why shouldn''t you be censored? If we put barriers up to silence ''unpleasant'' ideas, what''s to stop the silencing of any discussion? This book is a full-throated defense of free speech and open inquiry in politics, science, and culture by the New York Times bestselling author and skeptic Michael Shermer. The new collection of essays and articles takes the Devil by the horns by tackling five key themes: free thought and free speech, politics and society, scientific humanism, religion, and the ideas of controversial intellectuals. For our own sake, we must give the Devil his due.Trade Review'Michael Shermer is our most fearless explorer of alternative, crackpot, and dangerous ideas, and at the same time one of our most powerful voices for science, sanity, and humane values. In this engrossing collection, Shermer shows why these missions are consistent: it's the searchlight of reason that best exposes errors and evil.' Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress'This is a rather difficult book for me to blurb, given that an entire chapter is devoted to criticizing my claims about pragmatic truth vis-à-vis scientific truth. However, Dr. Michael Shermer is a very clear thinker, and the kind of skeptic that is always necessary to ensure that public thought, scientific and otherwise, maintains a certain clarity. He's a passionate advocate of free speech, for this and many other reasons - to the point of entitling his new book Giving the Devil His Due, which is devoted to many worthwhile topics, but to free speech above all. Despite our disagreements, this is a necessary book for our times. Read it. And thank God and the powers that be that you have the right to do so.' Jordan B. Peterson, University of Toronto, and author of 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos'Michael Shermer is a fearless defender of free speech, open inquiry, and freedom of thought and conscience, including - and especially - for those with whom he disagrees. Giving the Devil His Due is one of the strongest bulwarks against the tyranny of censorship that I have read.' Nadine Strossen, New York University, former President of the ACLU, and author of Hate: Why We Should Resist it with Free Speech, Not Censorship'… a detailed roadmap for thinking well and clearly about interesting and challenging ideas. This vivid, erudite, broad, and deep collection of essays is marvelously written - so much so that, as you finish one essay, you cannot resist starting the next. And the range - from ancient civilizations to the colonization of Mars, from free speech on campus to gun control in cities - is as astonishing as it is engaging.' Nicholas A. Christakis, MD, Ph.D, author of Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society'As always, Michael Shermer is hard-hitting, thought-provoking, and brilliant. The fascinating essays in this wide-ranging book will make you think - and then rethink.' Amy Chua, Yale University, and author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations'Michael Shermer is the voice of reason, and this is a book of his best essays - the ones we most need to read to understand the madness of our time and to imagine a more reasonable future. The range of questions Shermer addresses and the breadth of his knowledge make this book a delight to read.' Jonathan Haidt, New York University, author of The Righteous Mind, and co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind'Giving the Devil His Due is a treasure trove for lovers of the humanities and society at large as viewed through the perspective of scholarly minds, treatises, and essays. It's marvelously ripened and full of wonderful tales… ' Robert Hunziker, Counterpunch'A powerful case is made here for why free speech is the best way to drive out bad ideas and fake news.' The Times'A collection of skilful elucidations of academic ideas.' Christopher Silvester, The Critic'Each essay is well crafted to provoke thoughtful reflection and amply referenced for those who wish to dig deeper into each topic … However, for any reader new to scepticism, Giving the Devil his Due would be an auspicious place to start.' Don Carpenetti, Chemistry WorldTable of ContentsIntroduction. Who is the Devil and what is he due?; Part I. The Advocatus Diaboli: Reflections on Free Thought and Free Speech: 1. Giving the Devil his due: why freedom of inquiry and speech in science and politics is inviolable; 2. Banning evil: in the shadow of the Christchurch massacre, myths about evil and hate speech are misleading; 3. Free speech even if it hurts: defending Holocaust denier David Irving; 4. Free to inquire: the evolution-creationism controversy as a test case in equal time and free speech; 5. Ben Stein's blunder: why intelligent design advocates are not free speech martyrs; 6. What went wrong? Campus unrest, viewpoint diversity, and freedom of speech; Part II. Homo Religiosus: Reflections on God and Religion: 7. E pluribus unum for all faiths and for none; 8. Atheism and liberty: raising consciousness for religious skepticism through political freedom; 9. The curious case of Scientology: is it a religion or a cult?; 10. Does the Universe have a purpose?; 11. Why is there something rather than nothing?; Part III. Deferred Dreams: Reflections on Politics and Society: 12. Another dream deferred: how identity politics, intersectionality theory, and tribal divisiveness are inverting Martin Luther King, Jr's dream; 13. Healing the bonds of affection: the case for classical liberalism; 14. Governing mars: lessons for the red planet from experiments in governing the blue planet; 15. The Sandy Hook effect: what we can and cannot do about gun violence; 16. On guns and tyranny; 17. Debating guns: what conservatives and liberals really differ on about guns (and everything else); 18. Another fatal conceit: the lesson from evolutionary economics is bottom-up self-organization, not top-down government design; Part IV. Scientia Humanitatis: Reflections on Scientific Humanism: 19. Scientific naturalism: a manifesto for Enlightenment humanism; 20. Mr Hume: tear. Down. This. Wall.; 21. Kardashev's types and Sparks' law: how to build civilization 1.0; 22. How lives turn out: genes, environment, and luck – what we can and cannot control; Part V. Transcendent Thinkers: Reflections on Controversial Intellectuals: 23. Transcendent man: an elegaic essay to Paul Kurtz – a skeptic's skeptic; 24. The real hitch: did Christopher Hitchens really keep two sets of books about his beliefs?; 25. The skeptic's chaplain: Richard Dawkins as a fountainhead of skepticism; 26. Have archetype – will travel: the Jordan Peterson phenomenon; 27. Romancing the past: Graham Hancock and the quest for a lost civilization.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA morally engaging investigation of torture that measures American ideals of democracy and equality against a dark, uncomfortable reality. -- Pulitzer Prize BoardA sobering history of how American communities and institutions have relied on torture in various forms since before the United States was founded. From indigenous American cultures’ use of ritualized torture to the techniques imported from Europe by early European settlers, to the various acts of cruelty and violence employed by prison guards, slave owners, the police and American soldiers, Brundage makes the…case that torture is a fundamental part of America’s history and makeup…The work of American torture has always been twofold: not just the violence itself, but the complex legal and rhetorical strategies that obfuscate it away to maintain a myth of America as a civilized place without cruel and unusual punishment. * Los Angeles Times *Understanding the history of torture in the United States will not prevent future violence, but Brundage views this information as providing an important framework for an engaged citizenry… Given that the current occupant of the White House has insisted that torture ‘absolutely’ works and has boasted he ‘would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding,’ the lessons of Civilizing Torture feel positively urgent. * Australian Book Review *Torture is a topic that many Americans might assume is a rarity in the country’s history, since it’s now banned by international law. But as the title of this book suggests, the reality is just the opposite…Essential reading for a better understanding of social and political justice. * Library Journal (starred review) *While the American people take pride in their country as democratic and civilized, history has shown that the practice of torture and violence pervades much of its history…This book is important to the historical record and is an invaluable tool for historians and social scientists. * Choice *A remarkable account of America’s episodic engagement with torture over the course of the nation’s history. Brundage uncovers ‘an American tradition’ marked less by legal and moral restraint than by strategies of rhetorical management designed to conserve American innocence and exceptionalism. A searing analysis of America’s past that helps make sense of its bewildering present. -- David Garland, author of Peculiar Institution: America’s Death Penalty in an Age of AbolitionAn indispensable book. Even as Americans have prided themselves on a civilized standard that is above torture, the United States has actually been engaged in the practice for virtually its entire history. Brundage shows that many of U.S. history’s key moments have involved torture of the most despicable kinds. Here’s hoping that Brundage’s book is the beginning of a new reckoning. -- John Fabian Witt, author of Lincoln’s Code: The Laws of War in American HistoryAmerican claims to constitute a higher form of ‘civilization’ erode in the face of this sobering study of atrocity. With extraordinarily deep and wide-ranging research, Fitzhugh Brundage shows that the American state has repeatedly resorted to savage violence against marginalized groups such as Indians, slaves, and prisoners. Bringing a humane sensibility to an inhumane subject, Brundage forces us to confront our painful past. -- Barbara J. Keys, author of Reclaiming American Virtue: The Human Rights Revolution of the 1970sThat Americans as a people and a nation-state are violent is indisputable. That we are also torturers, domestically and internationally, is not so well established. The myth that we are not torturers will persist, but Civilizing Torture will remain a powerful antidote in confronting it. -- Lawrence Wilkerson, Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Government and Public Policy, The College of William and Mary, and former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, 2002–2005

Read more less