International relations Books

Book SynopsisThe profound effects of the British Empire's actions in the Arab World during the First World War can be seen echoing through the history of the 20th century. The uprising sparked by the Husayn-McMahon correspondence and led by 'Lawrence of Arabia'; the Sykes-Picot agreement which undermined that rebellion; and memoranda such as the Balfour Declaration all have shaped the Middle East into forms which would have been unrecognizable to the diplomats of the 19th century. Undertaken during the First 'World' War, these actions were not part of a coordinated British strategy, but in fact directed by several overlapping and competing departments, some imperfectly referred to as the 'Arab Bureau'. The British and the Middle East is unique in its comprehensive treatment of how and why the British generals and diplomats acted as they did. By taking as his starting point the voluminous, contradictory and revealing records of the policy-makers in the British government, Robert H. Lieshout shows convincingly that many concerned with foreign policy making were quite oblivious to the history and complexities of the Islamic World.Covering the full sweep of British involvement in Arabia, Lieshout makes a lasting contribution to our understanding of the period in which the British Empire changed the world, and shows how shallow and confused the understanding of those that shaped the future of the Middle East really was.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter the Second World War, Germany was an international pariah. Today, it has become a beacon of the Western world. But what makes this extraordinary nation tick? On Germany tells the story of a country reborn, from defeat in 1945 to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the painstaking reunification of 'the two Germanies', and the Republic's return to the world stage as an economic colossus and European leader. Giles MacDonogh restores these momentous events of world history to their German context, from the food and drink that accompanied them to the deep-rooted provincialism behind the national story. Full of vivid and often whimsical vignettes of German life, this is a Germanophile's homage to the culture and people of a country he has known for decades.Trade Review‘Culture and the texture of everyday experience, rather than the grand sweep of politics, are what MacDonogh relishes, and his account shines with his enthusiasm for his subject. This is the book of a well-informed flâneur sniffing the air . . . the attitudes and quirks that make Germany so distinctive are nicely brought to life.’ ‘Funny, erudite and, despite all the competition, original . . . MacDonogh’s vivid tapestry does justice to the most despised and most envied people in Europe . . . as enjoyable as sitting in the lovely old square of a small town in Germany, quaffing a cold glass of hock to the sound of a distant Bach cantata.’‘[On Germany] benefits from a harvest of cross-cultural encounters gathered over many years of travel . . . waitresses, landladies and drinking companions become informants and case studies . . . tantalising.’'Giles MacDonogh has repeatedly shown himself to be in the front rank of British scholars of German history.' * The Spectator *‘The story of a country reborn . . . an all-embracing book.’ 'A fascinating romp through German history--engaging, honest and personal--that unfolds like a fine after-dinner conversation with a particularly erudite friend.' -- Rory MacLean, author of 'Berlin: Imagine a City''Forensic political and historical analysis, telling cultural detail and deep insights, with good jokes and fascinating twists. Want to know what happened to Nazi art after 1945? Or what the East German government thought of Elvis Presley? There are some excellent books on Germany; MacDonogh matches the best.' -- Frederick Taylor, author of 'The Berlin Wall' and 'Exorcising Hitler''Giles MacDonogh's splendid little book draws on his extensive historical insight and personal experience of mainland Europe's most important country. This highly personal and quirky work deftly intertwines human stories, superb anecdotes and historical-political set pieces, garnished with food and drink, to remind us of why Germany continues to intrigue us.' -- Brendan Simms, Professor of the History of European International Relations, Cambridge University, and author of 'Britain's Europe: A Thousand Years of Conflict and Cooperation'

Read more less

Book SynopsisGreat powers have often found that military adventurism to force their will in distant lands comes with the risk of spending excessive military, economic, and moral capital to the extent that war is no longer sustainable. Written by a former BBC Afghanistan correspondent who set up the corporation’s bureau in Kabul in the early 1990s, this book draws both from scholarly knowledge as well as first-hand insights on how the Americans met that fate in Vietnam, and the Soviets and Americans in Afghanistan. America’s 1975 retreat from Vietnam was a consequential event, prompting US commentators to explain it as reluctance to get involved in foreign wars, a mindset described as the Vietnam Syndrome. As Deepak Tripathi points out, the Vietnam experience made the Americans determined to give the Soviets their own Vietnam. The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and retreat after a decade of occupation, represented the revenge America sought. However, President George W. Bush’s decision to invade Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks was the beginning of a long military venture that ended in retreat in 2021. Addressing an academic as well as a general audience, Tripathi explores parallels between wars in Afghanistan and Vietnam, and shows how the United States and the Soviet Union met the same fate.Table of ContentsChapter 1. 9/11 Reprisal.- Chapter 2. Overreach.- Chapter 3. War On Terror.- Chapter 4. Afghan War.- Chapter 5. Iraq War.- Chapter 6. Arab Spring.- Chapter 7. Return to Kabul.- Chapter 8. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis timely book debates the economic and political logic of the austerity policies that have been implemented in the UK and in the Eurozone since 2010 and asks whether there is any alternative for these countries in the years ahead. The work reconsiders the austerity versus stimulus debate through the voices of those who proposed the successful idea of expansionary austerity and those who opposed it. The editors have brought together a collection of articles written by some of the most notable figures in the discipline, including the likes of Alberto Alesina, Ken Rogoff, Tim Besley, David Graeber, Vince Cable, and Paul Krugman. The book also features the debate between Niall Ferguson and Robert Skidelsky. These leading thinkers unveil a world where economists are far from agreeing on economic policy, and where politics often dominates the discussion. The question of whether the British government should have opted for austerity runs through the book, as well as how sustained economic recovery should be encouraged in the future. Scholars, students and members of the general public with an interest in the financial crisis and its lingering aftermath will find this work invaluable.Table of ContentsIntroduction. -1. The Politics of the Debate.- 2. The Two Sides of the Debate.- 3. Contemporary Arguments for Austerity.- 4. Contemporary Arguments for Stimulus.- 5. Confidence: The Object of the Debate.- 6. Austerity vs Stimulus in the UK.- 7. What's Next.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith engaged scholarship and an exciting contribution to the field of Israel/Palestine studies, queer scholar-activist Corinne Blackmer stages a pointed critique of scholars whose anti-Israel bias pervades their activism as well as their academic work. Blackmer demonstrates how the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement that seeks to delegitimize and isolate Israel has become a central part of social justice advocacy on campus, particularly within gender and sexuality studies programs. The chapters focus on the intellectual work of Sarah Schulman, Jasbir Puar, Angela Davis, Dean Spade, and Judith Butler, demonstrating how they misapply critical theory in their discussions of the State of Israel. Blackmer shows how these LGBTQ intellectuals mobilize queer theory and intersectionality to support the BDS movement at the expense of academic freedom and open discourse.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“One of the best informed and non-partisan accounts of the Syrian tragedy yet published.”—Patrick Cockburn, Independent"Provides genuinely valuable insight into the dynamics of a tragedy that will undoubtedly remain at the centre of the world’s attention for many years to come."—Daniel Falkiner, LSE Review of Books"This is the best work to date that focuses on the regional and international dimensions of the Syrian conflict. Christopher Phillips' research is meticulous, with both depth and breadth in large part gleaned from his interviews with top officials and representatives from most of the stakeholder states and groups in the war. A must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the multidimensional complexities of the conflict."—David Lesch, author of Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad"Syria's horrific civil war has been profoundly shaped by the competitive interventions and proxy wars by external powers. The Battle for Syria offers a brilliant, essential account of the international dimension of Syria's descent from uprising into insurgency and brutal state violence. This sober and judicious book will become a standard text for those seeking to understand Syria's tragedy."—Marc Lynch, author of The New Arab Wars: Anarchy and Uprising in the Middle East

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn a world that has returned to great power rivalry, understanding the grand strategy of these powers is crucial. This book introduces ten key terms for analysing grand strategy and shows how the world’s great powers – the United States, China, Russia and the European Union (EU) – shape their strategic decisions today. Outlining the steps needed for a less confrontational grand strategy and a more peaceful and stable world order, this lively and accessible introduction shows how the choices made in each of these ten areas will determine the course of world politics in the first half of the 21st century.Table of ContentsIntroduction: No Peace from Corona – Why Grand Strategy and Great Powers Remain Important 1. Simple: But Not Easy 2. Competitive: The Other Players Have a Strategy Too 3. Rational: Reason Trumps Ideology, Religion, and Emotion 4. Allied: One Needs Allies but Cannot Always Choose Them 5. Comprehensive: There Is No Hard, Soft or Smart Power – Just Power 6. Creative: An Art as Well as a Science 7. Agile: Taking Decisions, Acting, and Taking New Decisions 8. Courageous: Dare to Go in, Dare to Get out, Dare to Stay out 9. Dirty: No Great Power Can Keep its Hands Clean 10. Proactive: A Strategy for Action Conclusion: Power to Engage

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1993, a newly-appointed CIA director warned that Western powers might have ‘slain a large dragon’ with the fall of the USSR, but now faced a ‘bewildering variety of poisonous snakes’. Since then, both dragons (state enemies like Russia and China) and snakes (terrorist and guerrilla organisations) have watched the US struggle in Iraq and Afghanistan, and mastered new methods in response: hybrid and urban warfare, political manipulation, and harnessing digital technology. Leading soldier-scholar David Kilcullen reveals everything the West’s opponents have learned from twenty-first-century conflict and explains how their cutting-edge tactics and adaptability pose a serious threat to America and its allies, disabling the West’s military advantage. The Dragons and the Snakes is a compelling, counterintuitive look at the new, vastly complex global arena. Kilcullen reshapes our understanding of the West’s foes, and shows how it can respond.Trade Review'This book should be read by everyone in uniform.' -- The Times‘Impressive … The Dragons and the Snakes is based on a formidable array of military and political sources.’ -- The Financial Times‘Interesting and provocative.’ -- The Sunday Times‘An eye-opening look at the state of strategic balance between the United States and its rivals, large and small … Essential reading for anyone concerned with America’s future on the world stage.’ -- Kirkus'Disturbingly brilliant. David Kilcullen, ever the thoughtful observer of wars and the people who wage them, captures the changes in warfare that already confound and threaten to overwhelm us. He correctly shows that we are mentally and physically unprepared for the new nature of conflict, and will likely pay dearly for it.' -- Stanley McChrystal, Retd US Army General, and Partner, McChrystal Group'David Kilcullen has produced another thoughtful, important book. At a time when some believe that the return of competition with great powers might serve as an emotional catharthis to help forget the long war against jihadist terrorist organisations, the author exposes and transcends that false choice. His ideas about how to fight for peace in a dangerous world should be read and discussed not only by diplomats, defence officials, and military officers, but also by citizens concerned about securing a better future for their children.' -- H.R. McMaster, Retd US Army Lt-General, and author of 'Dereliction of Duty' and 'Battlegrounds''Once again David Kilcullen succeeds in demonstrating how our adversaries are adapting faster than we are to the experiences of the recent past. Timely advice for defence strategists on how to apply those lessons, and to plan for the next conflict, not the last.' -- Professor Sir David Omand, former UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator

Read more less

Book SynopsisA timely collection on the most pressing global issueof our time. Will stimulate public debate on the Israel/Palestine question in light of the current conflict. Contributors are among the most highly regardednames in this field, and have strong online and media profilesTable of ContentsContents Introduction 7 1. Presence, Memory and Denial 13 Ahmed Moor 2. The State of Denial: The Nakba in the Israeli Zionist Landscape 23 Ilan Pappe 3. Reconfiguring Palestine: A Way Forward? 43 Sara Roy 4. The Power of Narrative: Reimagining the Palestinian Struggle 70 Saree Makdisi 5. Protest and Privilege 81 Joseph Dana 6. Beyond Regional Peace to Global Reality 95 Jeff Halper 7. The Future of Palestine: Righteous Jews vs. the New Afrikaners 115 John J. Mearsheimer 8. Israel's Liberal Myths 134 Jonathan Cook 9. The Contract 150 Phil Weiss 10. Zionist Media Myths Unveiling 163 Antony Loewenstein 11. A Secular Democratic State in Historic Palestine: Self-Determination through Ethical Decolonisation 174 Omar Barghouti 12. How Feasible is the One-State Solution? 190 Ghada Karmi 13. Zionism After Israel 200 Jeremiah Haber About the contributors 215 Notes 218 Acknowledgements 232

Read more less

Book SynopsisAmerica's Fatal Leap deconstructs US geopolitics after the end of the Cold War, informed by its author's unsurpassed command of modern history. Paul W. Schroeder, an acclaimed historian of international diplomacy, was a conservative and a natural supporter of American leadership in the world. But he wrote scathing op-eds for the National Interest and the American Conservative about the hubris and moral failings of the War on Terror, warning of damaging long-range effects on the international system. Schroeder compared 9/11 to the assassination in Sarajevo that sparked the First World War, insisting that a great power should never give terrorists a war they wanted. He wrote with extraordinary prescience - months before the US launched its attack on the Taliban - of the 'risks of victory' in Afghanistan, characterised the war in Iraq as a failed bid for informal empire, and called for 'disimperialism' in the Middle East.America's Fatal Leap collects Schroeder's remarkable interventions on America's adventurism in the Middle East, from the 1991 Gulf War to the Surge of 2007. It includes an Introduction by Perry Anderson, author of US Foreign Policy and Its Thinkers and Ever Closer Union?

Read more less

Book SynopsisA revelatory account of a reformed Islamist movement's role in toppling the Assad regime.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCan the Euro be saved? Should it be?Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz dismantles the prevailing consensus around what ails Europe - arguing that economic stagnation is a direct result of the Euro''s flawed birth, demolishing the champions of austerity and offering solutions that can rescue the continent from further devastation.''Stiglitz could hardly have timed The Euro better ... one of those economists with a rare ability to help readers understand complex ideas'' Philip Aldrick, The Times''Original, hard-hitting ... Much more than a demolition job. These chapters are full of constructive proposals'' Martin Sandbu, Financial Times''Terrific and clarifying'' Peter Goodman, The New York Times''Coolly analytical ... he is surely right: without a radical overhaul of its workings, the Euro seems all but certain to fail'' EconomistTrade ReviewHighly readable ... passionately written ... this important book will unnerve millions * Sunday Telegraph *Stiglitz could hardly have timed The Euro better ... one of those economists with a rare ability to help readers understand complex ideas -- Philip Aldrick * The Times *Coolly analytical ... he is surely right: without a radical overhaul of its workings, the Euro seems all but certain to fail * Economist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSome people facing violence and persecution flee. Others stay. How do households in danger decide who should go, where to relocate, and whether to keep moving? What are the conditions in countries of origin, transit, and reception that shape people's options? This incisive book tells the story of how one Syrian family, spread across several countries, tried to survive the civil war and live in dignity. This story forms a backdrop to explore and explain the refugee system. Departing from studies that create siloes of knowledge about just one setting or ""solution"" to displacement, the book's sociological approach describes a global system that shapes refugee movements. Changes in one part of the system reverberate elsewhere. Feedback mechanisms change processes across time and place. Earlier migrations shape later movements. Immobility on one path redirects migration along others. Past policies, laws, population movements, and regional responses all contribute to shape states’ responses in the present. As Arar and FitzGerald illustrate, all these processes are forged by deep inequalities of economic, political, military, and ideological power. Presenting a sharp analysis of refugee structures worldwide, this book offers invaluable insights for students and scholars of international migration and refugee studies across the social sciences, as well as policy makers and those involved in refugee and asylum work.Trade Review2023 Felicia Krishna Hensel Book Award ‘Honorable Mention’ from the Interdisciplinary Studies Section of the International Studies Association (ISA) “Arar and FitzGerald offer a truly comprehensive overview of what makes people able and willing to flee violence […]. The Refugee System will be useful to undergraduate and graduate students of migration, particularly because of its accessible language and composition […]. Besides students, the book will also benefit more seasoned migration scholars looking for a theoretical synthesis of recent debates in their field.”Ethnic and Racial Studies“In contrast to studies that often focus on how state policies impact migrants’ decisions, the authors demonstrate how migrants shape policies.”International Migration Review“This book [demonstrates] the value of using a systems approach to understand the refugee system. While it is challenging to empirically measure and capture all interactions between refugee drivers, actors, states, policies, and institutions involved, the book has shown that demographic analysis can benefit from using a holistic approach in the production of knowledge about refugees.”Raya Muttarak, Population and Development Review “A work of brilliance, Arar and FitzGerald’s The Refugee System illuminates the phenomenon in a way that no one has done before, providing an indispensable framework for understanding the causes and consequences of forced migration as well as the ways in which states and institutions have responded when faced with people fleeing violence and persecution.”Roger Waldinger, University of California, Los Angeles “A rich analysis of the ways in which migrants and refugees interact with entangled legal and political regimes. Arar and FitzGerald never lose sight of the people most affected by the phenomena under discussion: refugees themselves, and their communities.​”Laura Madokoro, Carleton University“During the past decade, the refugee issue dominated the world's media headlines and has risen to the very top of the global policy agenda. This groundbreaking book provides a uniquely comprehensive, systematic and humane analysis of this important topic.”Jeff Crisp, Refugee Studies Centre, University of OxfordTable of ContentsAbbreviations 1. A systems approach to displacement 2. Who is a refugee? 3. Making a legal refugee regime 4. Should I stay or go? 5. Exit 6. Hosting in the many Global Souths 7. Powerful hosts 8. Transnational connections and homeland ties 9. Conclusion References Acknowledgements

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn authoritative examination of Xi Jinping Thought--now the official dogma of the Chinese Communist Party--that marshals Xi''s personal words and writings to reveal his plan to make the China Dream of national rejuvenation a reality in the coming decades.Over the course of the last half dozen years, China''s supreme leader Xi Jinping has made extraordinary changes which have profound implications not only for the Chinese people but nations throughout the world. Given how swiftly and fundamentally China''s relations with the rest of the world are changing under Xi''s rule, it is imperative that we know what Xi Jinping Thought is, how it evolved, and why it is so important.In The Political Thought of Xi Jinping, Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung provide an authoritative overview of what Xi Jinping Thought is and is not and what it means for both China and the world. Xi, now effectively leader for life, has worked to ensure that Xi Jinping Thought becomes cemented as the new state ideology. CTrade ReviewThis is the first book-length study that not only offers a clear, systematic, and comprehensive reading of Xi Jinping's political thought, but further links it to the key policy initiatives that have shaped his tenure. Tsang and Cheung offer an impressively clear and comprehensive map of contemporary Chinese politics and is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand what China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong actually thinks, and why. * Patricia M. Thornton, University of Oxford China Centre *While many authors attempt to explain the nature of Xi Jinping's ideas and power, few if any do so better than Tsang and Cheung. By looking carefully at his actual words and policies through a careful reading of numerous Chinese-language sources, they provide an indispensable guide to understanding how Xi's thought is transforming rule in China. * Michael Auslin, Stanford University *A vivid and persuasive close reading of the words of CCP leader Xi Jinping which brilliantly clarifies Xi's ambitions for himself and the PRC. A marvelous analysis. * Edward Friedman, University of Wisconsin *This book is not a simple introduction to Xi Jinping's political thought, it brings to life of Xi's vision and ambition for China's totalitarian system and big power aspiration. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand China's totalitarian turn internally and increasingly assertive international behavior in Xi Jinping's new era. * Suisheng Zhao, Editor of Journal of Contemporary China *Tsang and Cheung make a very timely and valuable contribution to the study of contemporary China, with a solid and comprehensive analysis of 'Xi Jinping Thought' and also a masterful demonstration of how to read and translate Beijing's dogmata. * Fei-Ling Wang, Author The China Order, The China Record, and the forthcoming The China Race: Global Competition for Alternative World Orders *Tsang and Cheung have delivered this year's must-read China book. In clear and concise prose, they demystify 'Xi Jinping thought' -providing a road map for understanding Xi's thinking, how that thinking becomes policy, and why some Xi-directed policies succeed while others fall short. A fascinating account of one of the most important and least well-understood aspects of China today. * Elizabeth C. Economy, Council on Foreign Relations *[The Political Thought of Xi Jinping] will appeal to readers interested in current-day China, especially Chinese political philosophy. * Mark Jones, Library Journal *Table of ContentsDedication Figures and Tables Abbreviations Acknowledgments Preface Introduction 1. Political Thought of Xi Jinping 2. Reinvigorating the Chinese Communist Party 3. The Party Leads Everything 4. Building a Moderately Well-Off Society Comprehensively 5. Developing a Socialist Market Economy 6. Creating a Patriotic Chinese People 7. Building

Read more less

Book Synopsis''This exciting and provocative book blows apart misconceptions about the Russian past'' Lara Douds, Times Higher Education Russia is an exceptional country, the biggest in the world. It is both European and exotic, powerful and weak, brilliant and flawed. Why are we so afraid of it? Time and again, we judge Russia by unique standards. We have usually assumed that it possesses higher levels of cunning, malevolence and brutality. Yet the country has more often than not been a crucial ally, not least against Napoleon and in the two world wars. We admire its music and its writers. We lavish praise on the Russian soul. And still we think of Russia as a unique menace. What is it about this extraordinary country that consistently provokes such excessive responses? And why is this so dangerous?Ranging from the earliest times to the present, Mark B. Smith''s remarkable new book is a history of this ''Russia Anxiety''. Whether ally or enemy, superpower or failing state, Russia grips our imagination and fuels our fears unlike any other country. This book shows how history itself offers a clearer view and a better future.Trade ReviewA fluent meditation on Russian history, a gallant attempt to reason with those who believe that Russia is condemned to an endless cycle of failed reform and resurgent authoritarianism ... a welcome antidote to the overwrought stuff about Russia so widespread in the West today. -- Rodric Braithwaite * History Today *Compelling... Russian history is many layered, Smith argues, and the deeper we dig the more apparent it becomes that the tropes of Russophobic history bear little or no relation to reality ... As a Russian history specialist, he deploys his deep knowledge of the country's culture, society and peoples to capture with verve and imagination the grand sweep of its history, and combines this with an astute commentary on contemporary politics. -- Geoffrey Roberts * Irish Times *Fizzing with energy, Mark B. Smith's book explodes many myths about the Russians and compels us to reflect critically on ourselves. -- Simon Dixon, author of Catherine the GreatIn this exciting and provocative book, Mark B. Smith blows apart misconceptions about the Russian past ... Smith's energy and dynamism carry the day. -- Lara Douds * Times Higher Education *The author is a highly informed guide, [who] prompts a review of prejudices ... Smith makes an important fundamental point: we must talk to the Russians and live alongside them. -- Max Hastings * The Times *Smith makes a very strong case that Russia's past needs to be considered as much more complex than it generally is. For that reason alone, this book deserves a large audience ... The Russia Anxiety is a very welcome book. It provides a provocative and much needed analysis of Russian history which ably shows the oversimplified nature of most Western understandings of Russia. -- Paul Robinson, author of RUSSIAN CONSERVATISM and Professor of History at the University of OttawaThe Russia Anxiety is a valuable effort to assess the long history of the West's Russia-related worries ... Regrettably, more than five years [since the annexation of Crimea], the United States seems no closer to developing either a strategy or a policy to manage its relationship with Russia. Mark Smith's provocative book won't solve that problem alone, but it does offer some valuable guidance in thinking about solutions. -- Paul Saunders * Russia Matters *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Oxford Handbook of Portuguese Politics brings together the best scholars in the field offering an unrivalled coverage of the politics (broadly defined) of the country over the past 50 years. The Handbook includes eight sections. First, it looks at the past and present by making an overview of Portuguese political developments since democratization in the 1970s. Second, it looks at political institutions as the building blocks of Portuguese democracy. The third section examines mass politics and voters, that is, a thorough analysis of the demand-side of mass politics. The fourth section turns to the supply side of mass-politics by looking at parties and the party system. The fifth section looks at the Portuguese society by unpacking a plethora of societal aspects with direct implications for politics. The sixth section examines governance and public policies, with a view to understanding how a constellation of public policies has an impact on the quality of governance and in fosteri

Read more less

Book SynopsisInternational Relations since 1945 is a comprehensive introduction to the global history of International Relations. The text has been fully updated for the third edition and features three new chapters covering Brexit, Trump, the rise of major powers in the Middle East, and the Syrian war.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent introduction to international political history since 1945 with a strong focus on the Cold War. The book is clearly structured and rigorously researched. Undergraduate politics students will find it very useful. * Dr Eli Gateva, Assistant Professor in Comparative Politics, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham *Thorough, well-written, informative, well-organized, but above all it is accessible for students. * Dr James Hamill, Lecturer in Politics, School of History, Politics, and International Relations, University of Leicester *This authoritative text offers greater historical depth than its rivals and is a serious piece of work that will support good scholarship amongst my students. * Dr Robert Smith, Lecturer in International Relations, School of Humanities, Coventry University *Table of ContentsPART 1: THE ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLD WAR 1945-531. Tensions in the Grand Alliance and the Growing Confrontation, 1945-472. Two Worlds East and West, 1945-483. Empire, Cold War, and Decolonisation, 1945-534. The Cold War Intensifies: Containment Superseded, 1948-53PART 2: COLD WAR: CRISES AND CHANGE, 1953-635. Soviet-American Relations: Avoiding Hot Water and the Search for Stability6. Maintaining the Spheres of Influence7. Fighting the Cold War: The Offensive Strategies8. Collapsing Empires: The Cold War Battle for Hearts and Minds, 1953-63PART 3: THE COLD WAR OF PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AND THE RISE OF MULTIPOLARITY 1963-719. The Eastern and Western Blocs in the 1960s10. The Vietnam War11. Other Regional ConflictsPART 4: THE DÉTENTE ERA, 1972-80 12. An Era of Negotiations, 1972-7313. Stagflation and the Trials of Détente, 1973-7614. Détente in Decline, 1977-7915. The Return to Confrontation, 1979-80PART 5: FROM CONFRONTATION TO COMMUNIST COLLAPSE, 1981-8916. The 'Second' Cold War, 1981-8517. Middle East Conflicts in the 1980s18. Instability in Latin America19. The Decline of the Cold War, 1985-89PART 6: THE POST-COLD WAR WORLD, 1990-200120. Europe and the Former Soviet Union21. US Predominance and the Search for a Post-Cold War Order22. Stability and Instability in the Less Developed WorldPART 7: THE AGE OF INSTABILITY AND CONFLICT: TERROR, ECONOMIC CHAOS AND POLITICAL CHANGE, 2001-11 23. The 'War on Terror' and the War in Afghanistan24. The War in Iraq25. Economic Problems in the West and the Economic Rise of China in the EastPART 8: THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY: CHAOS AND CONFUSION IN PART VIII The Age of Uncertainty: Chaos and Confusion in a GLOBALIZED WORLD, 2011-1826. Conflict and Chaos in the Middle East27. Threats to the existing Global Order: Instability in the West28. Threats to the Existing Global Order: Challenges from the East

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of the best comedy books of 2018 * The List *The latest offering in the hilarious Ladybird for Grown Ups series is a funny mickey-take of the Brexit debate (and, boy, do we need some fun) * Sunday Post *Hilarious * Stylist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat are the implications of climate change for twenty-first-century conflict and security? Rising temperatures, it is often said, will bring increased drought, more famine, heightened social vulnerability, and large-scale political and violent conflict; indeed, many claim that this future is already with us. Divided Environments, however, shows that this is mistaken. Focusing especially on the links between climate change, water and security, and drawing on detailed evidence from Israel-Palestine, Syria, Sudan and elsewhere, it shows both that mainstream environmental security narratives are misleading, and that the actual security implications of climate change are very different from how they are often imagined. Addressing themes as wide-ranging as the politics of droughts, the contradictions of capitalist development and the role of racism in environmental change, while simultaneously articulating an original ''international political ecology'' approach to the study of socio-environmental conflicts, Divided Environmentsoffers a new and important interpretation of our planetary future.Trade Review'Political ecology is going international! In this path-breaking book, the authors demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt how environmental conditions, in particular water and climate, co-shape international political (in)security. Drawing on the traditions of political ecology and international relations, the authors carefully weave a tapestry of sophisticated conceptual argumentation and detailed empirical analysis that opens the way for an urgently needed international political ecology. Divided Environments should be taken very seriously indeed by anyone concerned with how environmental conditions intersect with questions of political power, inter-state relations and socio-ecological (in)security.' Erik Swyngedouw, University of Manchester'Divided Environments is engaged scholarship of the highest order and significance. Analytically rigorous and grounded in five illuminating case studies, the book challenges the racist stereotypes, alarmist policy narratives and simplistic scarcity models that have dominated the climate, water and security field to date. Step by step, theme by theme, the authors articulate an international political ecology that puts into dynamic interplay processes of resource extraction, capitalist expansion, state-building and environmental change. Clearly written and convincingly argued, Divided Environments is essential reading for those seeking a clearer understanding of the complex relationships between environment, development, conflict and climate change.' Betsy Hartmann, Hampshire CollegeDrawing on five rich empirical cases, Divided Environments offers necessary clarity and excellent insights into the murky and often intentionally skewed debates around climate change, water and security. It should be read by anyone involved in the powerful politics around climate and water (in)security, as well as scholars of political ecology, environmental governance and geography. Farhana Sultana, Syracuse University'What Selby and co-authors achieve in this book is of the greatest importance. They decisively expose the naivety of climate reductionism, so evident in popular accounts of climate conflicts and water wars, and replace it with a framework of understanding they call 'international political ecology'. Their argument is richly and authoritatively grounded in five regional cases drawn from the Middle East and north Africa. This is work of the highest scholarship, with huge significance for how we should think, talk and act about the risks of climate change.' Mike Hulme, University of Cambridge'A treasure of a book.' Robert Vitalis, University of Pennsylvania'Drawing on political ecology, this illuminating study unveils the security implications of water development and climate change in Cyprus, Lake Chad, Palestine, South Sudan and Syria, and traces how the legacies of colonialism, violent capitalism, racialised development and predatory states, rather than climate change, drive environmental vulnerabilities and conflict. A critical counter-narrative to mainstream discourse on climate security, and a highly recommended contribution to the debate about water resources and conflict.' Marwa Daoudy, Georgetown University'Divided Environments is a much-needed critical analysis of the idea that climate change causes conflicts, that demonstrates how this idea is empirically flawed and rooted in Eurocentric myths about colonised people and their environments.' Tor A. Benjaminsen, Norwegian University of Life Sciences'This is a book that will make people sit up and think.' Mark Zeitoun, University of East Anglia'For International Relations to productively contribute to the climate challenge, scholars in the field must interrogate the assumptions and oversimplified analyses which are frequently attached to climate security and climate change politics. This important book highlights and corrects key climate-related claims and is a must-read text for not only climate change activists and policy-makers but for all IR researchers!' Milja Kurki, Aberystwyth UniversityTable of ContentsPreface: 1. Introduction; 2. Geography versus demography; 3. Drought; 4. Others; 5. Hydraulics; 6. Frontiers; 7. War; 8. Peace; 9. Transformations and circulations; 10. Conclusions.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Short History of U.S. Interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean presents a concise account of the full sweep of U.S. military invasions and interventions in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean from 1800 up to the present day.Table of ContentsSeries Editor’s Preface viii Acknowledgments x List of Illustrations xi Introduction: Topic and Themes 1 1 Expanding the Continental Republic, 1811–1897 10 2 The Cuban Crucible: Experiments in Overseas Empire, 1898–1922 34 3 Monopolizing the Central American Isthmus, 1903–1926 55 4 Wilsonian Interventions, 1913–1919 72 5 Accommodation and Resistance, 1917–1930 95 6 From Occupier to Good Neighbor, 1921–1936 115 7 Warding Off Global Ideologies, 1935–1954 133 8 Containing Revolution, 1959–1990 148 9 Identifying Post]Cold War Political Threats, 1986–2016 172 Conclusion: Multitudes of Interventions 194 Bibliography 202 Index 209

Read more less

Book SynopsisTwo leading feminist lawyers reflect on gender in international law to set out what a gendered peace might look like and its impact on international law in this open access book.In order to challenge orthodoxies, the book takes an unconventional approach, merging personal reflections, expert essays, and interviews. It throws the disciplinary net wide, drawing on international law, gender studies, international relations and history. The authors, undisputed global leaders in the field, challenge the reader to unlearn international law, in order to relearn it in a way that makes it more fit for purpose in the contemporary world. This seminal work is a clarion call to think about international law in a new and transformative way.The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the London School of Economics & Political Science.For additional material on

Read more less

Book SynopsisBacked by Brazil’s wealthy agribusiness groups, a growing evangelical movement, and an emboldened military and police force, Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019. Driven by the former army captain’s brand of controversial, aggressive rhetoric, the divisive presidential campaign saw fake news and misinformation shared with Bolsonaro’s tens of millions of social media followers.Bolsonaro promised simple solutions to Brazil’s rising violent crime, falling living standards and widespread corruption, but what has emerged is Latin America's most right-wing president since the military dictatorships of the 1970s. Famous for his racist, homophobic and sexist beliefs and his disregard for human rights, the so-called ‘Trump of the Tropics’ has established a reputation based on his polemical, sensationalist statements.Written by a journalist with decades of experience in the field, Beef, Bible and bullets is a compelling account of the origins of Brazil's unique brand of right-wing populism. Lapper offers the first major assessment of the Bolsonaro government and the growing tensions between extremist and moderate conservatives.Trade ReviewOne of The Financial Times' Top 10 Politics Books of 2021 One of The Economist's essential books for understanding Latin America'So often, there is a lack of context brought to news reporting of today's Brazil. Lapper masterfully brings us that necessary context, weaving first-hand accounts from primary sources together with a rigorous chronicle of the country’s recent history and politics. One of the clearest pictures of Brazil in 2021 and how it got there. A must-read for anyone covering Latin America.'Lucinda Elliott, journalist, The Times'Finally, a book that looks beyond easy narratives to explain the real reasons for Jair Bolsonaro’s rise. One of the world’s most knowledgeable experts on Brazil, Richard Lapper shows us not just the postcard image of Rio de Janeiro, but the country of Evangelical megachurches, cattle ranches, walled-off mansions and shopping malls that elected this total outsider. Beef, Bible and bullets is the best chronicle to date of how the “Trump of the Tropics” came to power.'Brian Winter, Editor-in-Chief, Americas Quarterly'This timely, well-researched book traces the cultural, economic and social roots of Brazil’s modern political transformation that Jair Bolsonaro captured in his unexpected path to the presidency. As such this colourful, readable book provides important insights into the social and political currents, beyond Brazil, that give rise to populism and that are shaping global politics.'Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America, Chatham House'Drawing on sharp-eyed reporting and in-depth knowledge of Brazil, Richard Lapper has written a highly readable and informative account of the rise of Jair Bolsonaro and the damage he has done to his country.'Michael Reid, author of Brazil: The Troubled Rise of a Global Power'This is the best book in English on the rise to the Brazilian presidency of the volatile and polarising figure of Jair Bolsonaro. It also focuses on the emergence of Bolsonarismo, Brazil's version of national populism, and the base of support for and changing fortunes of the Bolsonaro administration in its first two years in power. Interspersing insightful portraits of Brazilians in different regions of the country with convincing explanations of events, Beef, Bible and bullets is an indispensable aid to the understanding of a political phenomenon that sometimes seems to defy logical analysis.'Anthony W. Pereira, Professor, Brazil Institute and Department of International Development, King's College London 'Lapper’s Beef, Bible and Bullets provides an excellent guide through Brazil’s current political complexities and the man who would be Trump. It is strongly recommended.'Scott B. MacDonald, Chief Economist at Smith’s Research & Gradings, Global Americans 'This is an engrossing read explaining and assessing the significance of Brazil's Trump. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about the deeper trends in Brazilian politics and the dangers and prospects for the future.'Mike Davis, Chartist -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 The outsider2 Coming in from the cold3 The magic moment4 Dilma Rousseff and the rocky road to recession5 The foundations begin to shake6 A political implosion7 Fear and loathing in the favelas8 From utopia to dystopia9 And God told me to vote for Bolsonaro10 “Environment, environment, it’s a joke…”11 The Amazon is burning12 Tilting at windmills13 A president under pressure14 An unexpected bonanzaList of abbreviationsAcknowledgementsNotesIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisExploring the digital frontiers of feminist international relations, this book investigates how gender can be mainstreamed into discourse about technology and security.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisNear the end of the Second World War, the United States made a bold strategic gambit that rewired the international system. Empires were abolished and replaced by a global arrangement enforced by the U.S. Navy. With all the world's oceans safe for the first time in history, markets and resources were made available for everyone. Enemies became partners.We think of this system as normal - it is not. We live in an artificial world on borrowed time.In The Accidental Superpower, international strategist Peter Zeihan examines how the hard rules of geography are eroding the American commitment to free trade; how much of the planet is aging into a mass retirement that will enervate markets and capital supplies; and how, against all odds, it is the ever-ravenous American economy that - alone among the developed nations - is rapidly approaching energy independence. Combined, these factors are doing nothing less than overturning the global system and ushering in a new (dis)order.For most, that is a disaster-in-waiting, but not for the Americans. The shale revolution allows Americans to sidestep an increasingly dangerous energy market. Only the United States boasts a youth population large enough to escape the sucking maw of global aging. Most important, geography will matter more than ever in a de-globalizing world, and America's geography is simply sublime.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe relationship between the US and China, the world's two superpowers, is peculiarly volatile. It rests on a seismic fault-of cultural misunderstanding, historical grievance, and ideological incompatibility. No other nations are so quick to offend and be offended. Their militaries play a dangerous game of chicken, corporations steal intellectual property, intelligence satellites peer, and AI technicians plot. The capacity for either country to cross a fatal line grows daily. Kevin Rudd, a former Australian prime minister who has studied, lived in, and worked with China for more than forty years, is one of the very few people who can offer real insight into the mindsets of the leadership whose judgment will determine if a war will be fought. The Avoidable War demystifies the actions of both sides, explaining and translating them for the benefit of the other. Geopolitical disaster is still avoidable, but only if these two giants can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through what Rudd calls "managed strategic competition." Should they fail, down that path lies the possibility of a war that could rewrite the future of both countries, and the world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Almighty Dollar comes this urgent and illuminating exploration of the rapidly changing global green economy, lifting the lid on what it means for us all.

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘An insightful, nuanced account that highlights the present multitude of currents at play in Europe' - Peter Pomerantsev The Baltics are vital democracies in North-Eastern Europe, but with a belligerent Vladimir Putin to their east – plotting his war on Ukraine – and ‘expansionist’ NATO to their west, these NATO members have increasingly been the subject of unsettling headlines in both Western and Russian media. But beyond the headlines, what is daily existence like in the Baltics, and what does the security of these frontline nations mean for the world? Based on her extensive research and work as a journalist, Aliide Naylor takes us inside the geopolitics of the region. Travelling to the heart of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania she explores modernity in the region, investigates smuggling and troop movements in the borderlands, and explains the countries’ unique cultural identities. Naylor tells us why the Baltics have been vital to the political struggle between East and West, and how they play a critical role in understanding the long running tensions between Russia and Europe.Trade ReviewIn this riveting debut, Naylor combines lyrical personal observations with insightful political analysis to offer a timely and comprehensive picture of the complex societies, economies, and political landscapes of this frequently overlooked region. * The Moscow Times *[A] captivating depiction of the relationship between domestic politics, geopolitics, socioeconomic issues and generational differences. * New Eastern Europe *An insightful, nuanced account that highlights the present multitude of currents at play in Europe, while showing how Russia has used the near-abroad as a laboratory for methods later deployed elsewhere. A mix of travelogue, social and political analysis, Naylor tells the stories and dynamics of the region from the inside, which is really the only way to understand them. * Peter Pomerantsev, author of This is not Propaganda and Nothing is True and Everything is Possible *Over the last six years, as Russia showed the world that it could, at will, seize territory on its Western border, the Baltic states were thrust into limbo, perpetually braced to become the next Ukraine. Aliide Naylor offers us a much-needed look at the netherworld that is the Baltics, an in-between space where anti-Putin intellectuals and shadowy money have sought shelter. Naylor, whose own relatives escaped West from Estonia, is an engaging companion, guiding us through pagan rites, cigarette smugglers' routes, and the lingering secrets of the Nazi occupation. Naylor takes us inside a swath of Europe in a state of suspended animation, forced to serve as a testing ground for a war that may never come. * Ellen Barry, Chief International Correspondent at The New York Times *Table of ContentsChapter 1: The past in the present Chapter 2: Tangible evidence Chapter 3: The view from Russia Chapter 4: Russia in the Baltics Chapter 5: The Baltics in the 21st century Chapter 6: The Baltic states in Europe Conclusion Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisBritain's relationship with Russia is surprisingly under-explored. When the two formed a pragmatic alliance and fought together at Navarino in 1827, it was overwhelmingly the work of the British prime minister, George Canning. His death brought about a volte-face that would see the countries fighting on opposite sides in the Crimean War and jostling for power during the Great Game. It was not until the 1917 revolution that another statesman had a defining impact on relations between Britain and Russia: Winston Churchill opposed Bolshevism, yet he never stopped advocating diplomatic and military engagement with Russia. In the Second World War, he recognised earlier than most the necessity of allying with the Soviets against the menace of Nazi Germany - as well as the post-war threat to freedom posed by the Soviets themselves.Bringing us into the twenty-first century, Owen chronicles how both countries have responded to their geopolitical decline. Drawing on both imperial and Soviet history, he explains the unique nature of Putin's autocracy and addresses Britain's return to 'blue water' diplomacy. With Owen's characteristic insight and expertise, Riddle, Mystery, and Enigma depicts a relationship governed by principle as often as by suspicion, expediency, and outright necessity.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat should the future of British foreign policy look like? For too long successive governments have shied away from acknowledging uncomfortable truths about the decline of Britain's military capabilities. As we approach the middle years of the twenty-first century a new set of urgent and daunting challenges - including climate change, technological development and the rise of AI, and a growing threat from China - lie ahead, making the need for us to reconcile ourselves with our position in the world more acute. In this persuasively argued book, Simon McDonald shows how the UK's significant soft-power strengths can be harnessed to expand our international influence. Such a shift will only be possible, he says, if we first acknowledge the challenges of Brexit and the need to reduce our unrealistic hard-power ambitions. Excellence in areas that other countries care about will keep the UK internationally relevant in the second half of the century in a way that nostalgia for a lost pre-eminence will not.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Economics of Brexit – Revisited builds upon and extends the analysis contained within the authors' previous book, The Economics of Brexit: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the UK's Economic Relationship with the EU, which arguably represented the most comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the UK’s economic relationship with the EU. The Economics of Brexit – Revisited continues where the previous volume left off, given that the UK has now formally withdrawn from the EU, and therefore the focus of the evidence presented concerns the potential economic implications arising from Brexit and considering the options available to those negotiating the UK's future economic relationship both regionally and globally. The Economics of Brexit – Revisited seeks to provide greater clarity to a range of issues that have been hotly debated over the past few years, ranging from the trade and fiscal implications of Brexit, to the economic impact of regulation and migration. The significance of different Brexit options are discussed in detail, including the significance of demands for regulatory harmonisation (the 'level playing field'), along with their implications for UK trade with the EU and the rest of the world. A wide range of economic analyses are evaluated to determine their relative methodological strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately whether their conclusions are sufficiently robust to engender confidence. Finally, noting that a key determinant of the effectiveness of any post-Brexit economic strategy depends upon the degree of flexibility created for economic policy, the book provides an extended examination of the potential relating to different economic policy options available to the UK government, depending upon the form of final trade settlement that is agreed with the EU. These policy options include more active forms of macroeconomic management, combined with industrial and procurement policy. The Economics of Brexit – Revisited therefore seeks to combine evaluation of the available evidence indicating the economic impact of Brexit, together with consideration of policy trade-offs that lie at the heart of the choices surrounding Brexit, and how these might be resolved. The Economics of Brexit – Revisited therefore maintains its position as the most comprehensive analysis of the economics of Brexit in the market today. Trade Review Table of ContentsChapter One. The Elusive Economic Consensus over Brexit.Chapter Two. The Fiscal Impact of Brexit.Chapter Three. Brexit and Trade.Chapter Four. Foreign Direct Investment.Chapter Five. Regulation.Chapter Six. Migration and the Labour Force.Chapter Seven. Economic Growth and Productivity.Chapter Eight. Economic Policy Considerations.Chapter Nine. Alternative Trading Models After Brexit.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBy challenging more common analyses that point to the existence of a "post-conflict scenario" in Colombia and those that resist the narrative of "success", both of which operate within the logic of presence/absence of violence, this book proposes instead that we think of "post-conflict" in terms of the transformation of the rules on the use of violence. The analysis unfolds in two parts: the first explores the conditions of possibility of the Colombian “success story” and the web of criteria legitimizing the “success”, as well as the silencing mechanisms allowing for Colombia to circulate internationally as a formula to be replicated in other parts of the world; the second, focuses on the historicization of the mechanisms through which new rules are transmitted among the professionals of the public force, specifically the transformations of military schools and training centers in Colombia from times of “war” to “peace”. The author argues that key to this transformation is a unique discursive articulation around the “military professional” which slides from “citizen-soldier” to “expert-soldier”. Table of Contents

Read more less

Book SynopsisCold War history research of the recent years suggests that the East-West détente process of the 1970s was a more significant element than previously believed in understanding and explaining the processes on both sides of the East-West divide which led to the peaceful end of the Cold War in the late 1980s. This anthology is a contribution to this research. The dozen articles of the book elucidate the European d6tente process from grass-root as well as diplomatic levels, including the Helsinki Conference Final Act of 1975 on respect of human rights and human contacts across the Iron Curtain of the Cold War. The articles are original research based on recently opened and not previously used state and private archives in West and East Europe and the United States, written by a mixture of internationally distinguished senior scholars and younger, promising researchers from the United States, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, and Denmark.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA newly updated edition of the best-selling primer on the social, political, and economic challenges facing Central and South America

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn innovative theory of state intelligenceTrade Review'Raises a fascinating question: what if the biggest failures of intelligence are not the factual errors, but the inbuilt biases that shape what types of information is deemed useful, or even legible, to the state?' -- Lisa Stampnitzky, Lecturer of Politics at the University of Sheffield, UK, and author of 'Disciplining Terror: How Experts Invented “Terrorism”''A ground-breaking contribution to the field. Elegantly written, the book decodes a plethora of declassified documents showing the racialised assumptions underlying the use and abuse of intelligence in contemporary Western politics. This is a must-read for anyone interested in democratic politics, recent armed conflicts in the Middle East or asymmetrical global power relations' -- Dr. Elisabeth Schweiger, Lecturer, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of York, UK'Your jaw will drop and your heart will break. We urgently need this reckoning with the role of race-thinking in international politics. Lives depend on it' -- Gargi Bhattacharyya'A ground-breaking analysis revealing how Western intelligence failures are not isolated incidents but symptomatic of a racialised imagination of other societies as 'ignorant, emotional, and illogical', ultimately threatening peace and maintaining inequality. Essential reading for anyone interested in how intelligence is made, (mis)used and underpins international relations' -- Owen David Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of Exeter and founding member of the Secrecy Power and Ignorance Network (SPIN)Table of ContentsList of figures Acronyms and Abbreviations Acknowledgements Introduction: Ukraine, Iraq, and the failure of intelligence failure 1. Whispering geopolitics in a decolonising world 2. Dragons and tigers and bears, oh my: The invention of the mirror-image problem Part Two 3. Getting to know Saddam Hussein 4. 'They buried things in the sand': The threat of Iraq and the secret of race Conclusion: Libya, the Arab Spring, and the success of intelligence failure Notes Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘The very grubby coalface of foreign policy … I found the entire book most horribly addictive’ Independent ‘One of the unexpected responses to reading this masterful study is amazement at the efforts the British and French each put into undermining the other’ Spectator A fascinating insight into the untold story of how British-French rivalry drew the battle-lines of the modern Middle East. In 1916, in the middle of the First World War, two men secretly agreed to divide the Middle East between them. Sir Mark Sykes was a visionary politician; François Georges-Picot a diplomat with a grudge. They drew a line in the sand from the Mediterranean to the Persian frontier, and together remade the map of the Middle East, with Britain’s 'mandates' of Palestine, Transjordan and Iraq, and France's in Lebanon and Syria. Over the next thirty years a sordid tale of violence and clandestine political manoeuvring unfolded, told here through a stellar cast of politicians, diplomats, spies and soldiers, including T. E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle. Using declassified papers from the British and French archives, James Barr vividly depicts the covert, deadly war of intrigue and espionage between Britain and France to rule the Middle East, and reveals the shocking way in which the French finally got their revenge.Trade Review'With superb research and telling quotations, Barr has skewered the whole shabby story...The convulsion of that fateful line in the sand are still being felt today - not only in the Middle East, but throughout the world' -- Michael Binyon * The Times *'Racy... [Barr] is right to assert that few British readers grasp the ferocity of Anglo-French antagonism in the Levant' -- Max Hastings * Sunday Times *'One of the unexpected responses to reading this masterful study is amazement at the efforts the British and French each put into undermining each other' * The Spectator *'The very grubby coalface of foreign policy...I found the entire book most horribly addictive' * Independent *'Lively and entertaining. He has scoured the diplomatic archives and has come up with a rich hail that brings his narrative to life' * Financial Times *'James Barr's history of imperial machinations in the Middle East offers a revelatory slant on the continuing crisis in that area... an outstanding piece of research and a damning take on what stoked current Middle Eastern woes' * Metro *'James Barr has succeeded better than any author before him in telling the fascinating story of Anglo-French rivalries in the modern Middle East... Outstanding' -- Eugene Rogan, author of 'The Arabs: A History'The book resembles a gripping spy thriller...an expertly researched and authoritative book that is easy to read' * Military Times *'Barr is particularly good at identifying and portraying officials and agents engaged in these tit-for-tat reprisals that blurred the distinction between patriotism and crime' * Literary Review *'Engaging and well-researched... James Barr's lively account provides some quite astounding sketches of bluster, bickering and bravado' * BBC History Magazine *The struggle between Britain and France for mastery of the Middle East between 1914 and the late 1940s, is analysed by James Barr in his excellent new book. It is a complex story of intrigue and skulduggery, which Barr pieces together in a deft, well-written narrative. A journalist by profession, he manages to bring the whole subject alive through a series of well-chosen details and characters' * History Today *'History at its meticulously researched and addictive best' * Dublin Review of Books *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘China’, Napoleon once remarked, ‘is a sleeping lion. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will shake the world.’ In 2014, President Xi Jinping triumphantly declared that the lion had awoken. From holding its ground in trade wars with the US, to presenting itself as a world leader in the fight against climate change, a newly confident China is flexing its economic muscles for strategic ends. With the Belt and Road initiative, billed as a new Silk Road for the 21st Century, China is set to extend its influence throughout Eurasia and across the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. But with the Chinese and US militaries also vying over the Pacific, does this newfound confidence put China on a collision course with the US? Combining a geopolitical overview with on-the-ground reportage from a dozen countries, this new edition of China’s Asian Dream engages with the most recent developments in the ongoing story of China’s ascendency, and offers new insights into what the rise of China means not only for Asia, but for the world.Trade Review[A] vivid and useful guide to China’s unfolding strategy and its economic and diplomatic ramifications. * ChinaDialogue *A lively work … particularly strong on the role that Chinese-backed infrastructure development will play in fulfilling [China’s regional] ambition. * Financial Times *A terrific combination of data and pavement-pounding local investigation, with discussions between academics, market traders and officials from Laos to India. * Hong Kong Review of Books *Superbly organised ... Miller deftly combines the plethora of data points and statistics with vivid local colour. * South China Morning Post *Understanding the philosophy behind China’s national aspirations will be a defining task of 21st-century diplomacy. In that vein, China’s Asian Dream will prove essential reading. * Wall Street Journal *Excellent … Tom Miller has voyaged around China’s periphery [and] his long experience of analysing the Chinese economy enables him to puncture a few over-inflated myths. * Bill Hayton, author of South China Sea: The Struggle for Power in Asia *One of the best accounts we have of what China’s rise really means for the world. * Hugh White, author of The China Choice *An indispensable guide... brimming with telling insights and arresting stories, China's Asian Dream really hits the ball out of the park. * James Kynge, Emerging Markets Editor for The Financial Times *A uniquely well informed view of the opportunities, and the huge risks, of China's bold ambitions in the region. * Kerry Brown, author of China and the New Maoists *Tom Miller tackles the central question of our time: whether China can translate its economic power into geopolitical clout, and execute its breath taking plan to dominate its Asian neighbours. * Richard McGregor, author of The Party: The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers *One of the best researched volumes on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s driving vision, his ‘dream’ to return his country to the dominant position it had held in Asia since ancient times. * William R. Hawkins, Selous Foundation for Public Policy Research *A must read for those interested in whether President Xi’s reincarnated “Silk Road” will succeed in restoring the grandeur of the Middle Kingdom. * Yukon Huang, former World Bank Director for China *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1. “One Belt, One Road”: Financing the New Silk Road Belt and Road Initiative Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Asia’s infrastructure arms race 2. Marching West: The Economics of Power in Central Asia Xinjiang Central Asia Russia 3. In the Heat of the Sun: Advancing Down the Mekong Laos Cambodia 4. California Dreamin’: How China “Lost” Myanmar Gateway to the Bay of Bengal 5. A String of Pearls: Fear and Loathing in the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Pakistan India Sri Lanka 6. Fiery Waters: Mapping the South China Sea Vietnam Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisEver since the Industrial Revolution energy has been a key driver of world politics. From the oil crises of the 1970s to today’s rapid expansion of renewable energy sources, every shift in global energy patterns has important repercussions for international relations. In this new book, Thijs Van de Graaf and Benjamin Sovacool uncover the intricate ways in which our energy systems have shaped global outcomes in four key areas of world politics: security, the economy, the environment and global justice. Moving beyond the narrow geopolitical focus that has dominated much of the discussion on global energy politics, they also deftly trace the connections between energy, environmental politics, and community activism.The authors argue that we are on the cusp of a global energy shift that promises to be no less transformative for the pursuit of wealth and power in world politics than the historical shifts from wood to coal and from coal to oil. This ongoing energy transformation will not only upend the global balance of power; it could also fundamentally transfer political authority away from the nation state, empowering citizens, regions and local communities. Global Energy Politics will be an essential resource for students of the social sciences grappling with the major energy issues of our times.Trade Review"In a complex and rapidly changing energy landscape, this comprehensive overview of the global politics of energy is particularly welcome. It skillfully connects the dots between energy markets, geopolitics, the environment, and local activism across a range of energy technologies and sectors. For anyone who wants to understand the complexities and depth of the global energy challenge, Global Energy Politics is essential reading." —Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General Emeritus of the International Renewable Energy Agency "An important contribution to thinking through the current energy era and the future transition." —Morgan Bazilian, Executive Director of the Payne Institute for Earth Resources and Research Professor of Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines "a well-informed, empirically rich systematic analysis of different parts of the energy sector that builds directly on the latest research." —Gavin Bridge, Durham University "Global Energy Politics is a comprehensive, well-researched, and valuable guide to the energy challenges of our time. Thijs Van de Graaf and Benjamin Sovacool deploy a variety of analytical perspectives: geopolitics, economics, sustainability, and justice, discussing promising technological innovations and the institutional and political challenges to decarbonization." —Robert O. Keohane, Princeton University "We are in the middle of a global energy transformation. Van De Graaf and Sovacool’s comprehensive text provides students with an essential guide to this changing global energy landscape." —Johannes Urpelainen, John Hopkins University "Keeping pace with the changing global energy landscape and its influence on political, economic and social issues has become exponentially more difficult in a world where unprecedented risks and technological advances are upending the norms of the last century. Global Energy Politics is a valuable resource for those seeking to understand and navigate the shifting relationships between energy markets, geopolitics, climate, equity, and emerging technologies at this critical energy crossroad." —Jason Bordoff, Columbia University "[Global Energy Politics] is very welcome… This book provides a wide-ranging panorama of global energy politics … and would be an excellent read for undergraduate and post-graduate students tackling the subject." —Asian Century Institute "The most important contribution of this book comes through employing systems thinking to deal with energy issues. Van De Graaf and Sovacool have opened up a technical and difficult topic to social scientists while at the same time broadening traditional IR approaches." —International Affairs "The book is well-researched, up to date, and it presents complex and interrelated energy topics in an easily accessible and impressively pedagogical way... Their multidisciplinary socio-technical approach offers a deeper understanding than could be attained through the lens of any single discipline in isolation." —International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics "An excellent survey and overview of various elements of global energy politics. The writing is clear and accessible, yet covers impressive ground and accommodates the infinite complexity of the subject at hand. This book serves as a comprehensive introductory text and will be a useful read to students of energy politics across a variety of disciplines, and particularly students attempting to find a point of entry into the rapidly growing subfield of energy geographies." —The American Association of Geographers (AAG) Review of Books "Sovacool and Van de Graaf bring us closer to the broader research agenda we need to map the different pathways of global transformation that may emerge from the transition…Their chapter on “energy justice”, which investigates the detrimental impacts of renewable energy supply chains on communities when social justice concerns are side-lined, is particularly welcome." —Michel J. Albert, AlternativesTable of ContentsForeword by Adnan Z. Amin 1. Introduction: Systems, frames, and transitions 2. The history and functioning of key energy markets Part I: World Politics Through an Energy Prism 3. Energy and security 4. Energy and the economy 5. Energy and the environment 6. Energy and justice Part II: Governing the Energy Transition 7. Energy technologies and innovation 8. National and regional energy policy 9. Global energy governance 10. Conclusions

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisGiven the turbulence in the international order in recent years, one of the central concerns among observers of world politics is the question of China''s ultimate goals. As China emerges as a superpower that rivals the United States, American policymakers grappling with this century''s greatest geopolitical challenge are looking for answers to a series of critical questions. Does China have expansive ambitions? Does it have a grand strategy to achieve them? If so, what is it and what should the United States do about it? In The Long Game, Rush Doshi draws from a rich base of Chinese primary sources, including decades worth of party documents, leaked materials, and memoirs by party leaders, to demonstrate that China is in fact playing a long, methodical game to replace America as a regional and global hegemon. He traces the basic evolution of Chinese strategy, showing how it evolved in response to changes in US policy and its position in the world order. After charting these shifts over time, Doshi offers a comprehensive yet asymmetric plan for an effective US response to this challenge: one that undermines China''s ambitions without competing dollar-for-dollar, ship-for-ship, or loan-for-loan. Ironically, the approach mirrors China''s own current strategy of subtly weakening Chinese leverage in the region and elsewhere while expanding US leverage over China.A bold assessment of what the Chinese government''s true foreign policy objectives are, The Long Game offers valuable insight to the most important rivalry in world politics.Trade ReviewHighly Recommended * M. G. Roskin, CHOICE *The most important book on China in years * John Pomfret, Washington Post *One of the "Best Books of 2021 * Financial Times *"[Doshi has] meticulously laid bare the Party's methodical advance toward global supremacy. China watchers craving a broad understanding of the Party's geopolitical thought and actions won't be disappointed. * David Wilezol, Wall Street Journal *As the US and China slip towards a new cold war, Doshi argues that Beijing is pursuing a long-term plan to displace the US as the world's most powerful nation. The verdict may sound sensationalist, but it is carefully argued and backed by deep research and primary sources. * Gideon Rachman, Financial Times *[Doshi] makes his own case powerfully, with reference to an impressive array of highly authoritative Chinese texts * The Economist *Of all the books to appear on this subject in 2021, this will be the one most closely read....Unlike many other Western writers on Chinese strategy, Doshi draws on a deep knowledge of the CCP's voluminous internal and public deliberations. * Niall Ferguson, The Times Literary Supplement *What does China tell itself about itself? This isn't a rhetorical question. Rush Doshi's The Long Game is a high wattage black light that helps us explore and make sense of China's strategic ambitions to understand their grand strategy * General CQ Brown, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force *Rush Doshi's landmark new book fills in key gaps in the United States' understanding of China's strategy and what it means for U.S. policy. * The Council on Foreign Relations *[A] valuable book...[Doshi] quotes extensively from the often obscure writings and speeches of Chinese leaders and thinkers. * Andrew Nathan, Foreign Affairs *Brilliant, bracing and empirically rich...It may well turn out to be the one single book that distills both the Chinese approach to the world and the broad contours of Sino-American competition. * The Indian Express *Rush Doshi's account of China's global strategy in The Long Game is a welcome draft of cold air. * Claremont Review of Books *60 pages of painstaking footnotes, many of them quoting internal statements by Communist Party leaders and intellectuals, make it rather compelling. * Pete Sweeney, Reuters *One of the Top Political Books of 2021 * The Hill *The Long Game brings what's been largely missing from debate on US-China relations: historically informed insight into the nature of China's Leninist system and strategy. * Kevin Rudd, President of the Asia Society and former Prime Minister of Australia *The Long Game is essential in understanding China's approach to the evolving US-China relationship and global order. Unique in scope and unmatched in substance, Rush Doshi's masterfully researched work describes clearly the economic, political, and military contours of China's strategic approach. The observations, analysis, and recommendations of this superb work must be foundational to any China playbook-business, political, or military. * Admiral Gary Roughead, U.S. Navy (Retired) *Using primary sources and crisp analysis, Rush Doshi decodes Beijing's grand strategy of the last three decades. In the process, he exposes the threadbare assumptions that caused countless American policymakers, intelligence analysts, and scholars to misjudge the intentions and capacities of China's rulers. Wishful thinkers, isolationists, and accommodationists will marshal no credible counterarguments to the central findings of this superb book. * Matt Pottinger, Former Deputy National Security Advisor *What does China want?' Rush Doshi makes such a cogent case, based on a wealth of Chinese textual and behavioral evidence, that China's consistent strategy has been to displace the United States that he persuades me to re-examine my view that China's aims are open-ended and malleable. His compelling book should become an instant classic in the China field and required reading for everyone trying to figure out America's own best strategy toward China. * Susan Shirk, Professor and Chair of the 21st Century China Center, University of California-San Diego *A must-read for anyone wrestling with the China Challenge. Doshi's careful analysis of Chinese language documents make a powerful case that China is pursuing a coherent grand strategy to overturn the US-led international order. * Graham Allison, Professor of Government, Harvard Kennedy School *Doshi has brilliantly limned a new framework for understanding both the global ambition and the strategic challenges posed by Xi Jinping and his 'wolf warrior diplomacy.' If you're looking for the one book that best illuminates the historical logic of his unrepentant 'China Dream,' The Long Game isit. * Orville Schell, Director, Center on US-China Policy, the Asia Society *Based on a careful reading of a vast array of Chinese sources, Rush Doshi presents a novel and compelling account of the evolution of Beijing's grand strategy. Doshi argues persuasively that shifts in China's behavior are driven by the Communist Party's collective assessment of trends in the global balance of power rather than by the personalities or preferences of individual leaders. The implications are not reassuring: China's increasingly open and aggressive attempts to displace the US and transform the international system began before Xi Jinping took power and will likely persist after he is gone. This important and insightful book should be required reading for scholars and policymakers alike. * Aaron L. Friedberg, Professor or Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University *The debate over whether China has a strategy to displace American leadership in Asia is over. Now comes the first authoritative account of what that strategy is. Using a vast array of original sources, Rush Doshi does unprecedented forensic work on the origins of Chinese grand strategy and itsprospects for success. * Michael J. Green, author of By More than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia-Pacific since 1783 *If you doubt that China has been pursuing a long-term, comprehensive strategy to achieve global primacy, read Rush Doshi's book. In this brilliant, definitive work, Doshi details the vaulting ambition of Beijing's agenda. Everyone interested in the future of American power and world order should read it now-or weep later. * Hal Brands, Johns Hopkins University and American Enterprise Institute *Table of ContentsChapter 1 - "A Coherent Body of Thought and Action": Defining Grand Strategy Chapter 2 - "The Party Leads Everything": Grand Strategy and the Communist Party Chapter 3 - "New Cold Wars Have Begun": The Traumatic Trifecta and the US Threat Chapter 4 - "Hiding Capabilities and Biding Time": Blunting as China's First Displacement Strategy Chapter 5 - "A Change in the Balance of Power": The Financial Crisis and US Decline Chapter 6 - "Actively Accomplish Something": Building as China's Second Strategy of Displacement Chapter 7 - "A Suit that No Longer Fits": The Global Order and China's Ambitions Chapter 8 - "Towards the World's Center Stage": Global Expansion as China's Third Displacement Strategy Chapter 9 - "An Asymmetric Response": Dealing with Chinese Strategies of Displacement

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow did the United States appoint itself as the world’s supreme military power? Stephen Wertheim delves into the archives of the U.S. foreign policy elite to trace armed dominance to its origin in World War II. He shows how officials and intellectuals suddenly chose to embrace perpetual dominance—at the price of perpetual war.Trade ReviewYou really ought to read it…It is a tour de force…While Wertheim is not the first to expose isolationism as a carefully constructed myth, he does so with devastating effect. Most of all, he helps his readers understand that ‘so long as the phantom of isolationism is held to be the most grievous sin, all is permitted.’ -- Andrew J. Bacevich * The Nation *For almost 80 years now, historians and diplomats have sought not only to describe America’s swift advance to global primacy but also to explain it…Any writer wanting to make a novel contribution either has to have evidence for a new interpretation, or at least be making an older argument in some improved and eye-catching way. Stephen Wertheim’s Tomorrow, the World does both…[An] estimable book. -- Paul Kennedy * Wall Street Journal *The only recent book to explore U.S. elites’ decision to become the world’s primary power in the early 1940s—a profoundly important choice that has affected the lives of billions of people throughout the globe…Contributes to the effort to transform U.S. foreign policy by giving pro-restraint Americans a usable past. Though Tomorrow, the World is not a polemic, its implications are invigorating…Wertheim opens space for Americans to reexamine their own history and ask themselves whether primacy has ever really met their interests. -- Daniel Bessner * New Republic *In writing the history of the country’s decision to embrace a militarist vision of world order—and to do so, counterintuitively, through the creation of the United Nations—Wertheim provides an importantly revisionist account of U.S. foreign policy in the 1940s, one that helps us think anew about internationalism today…The contemporary stakes of Wertheim’s work are plainly apparent…A reminder of just how strange it is that Americans have come to see military supremacy as a form of selfless altruism, as a gift to the world. -- Sam Lebovic * Boston Review *Wertheim delves into an important bit of history to try to pinpoint exactly when and why the United States embraced the global military supremacy that Americans have taken for granted for decades…He is on [firm] ground in arguing that today U.S. global military dominance has outlived its original purpose. -- Jessica T. Mathews * Foreign Affairs *The Trump and Biden administrations have seen a sharp shift away from the United States’ desire to be the preeminent power in the world. But how did it get there in the first place? In painstaking detail, Wertheim draws the battle map of intellectual warfare that went on during World War II between U.S. thinkers who wanted the United States to continue the tradition of British preeminence and those who didn’t. -- Jack Detsch * Foreign Policy *Stephen Wertheim isn’t only a great historian of American foreign policy. He uses history to offer a critique of American foreign policy that Americans desperately need now. -- Peter Beinart, author of The Icarus SyndromeHow did the United States acquire the will to lead the world? How did primacy come to be the natural posture of America’s policy elite? In this groundbreaking new history, Stephen Wertheim overturns our existing understanding of the emergence of American global dominance. A work of brilliantly original historical scholarship that will transform the way we think about the past, the present, and the future. -- Adam Tooze, author of CrashedAmericans now believe global leadership is their birthright; this splendid book uncovers the origins of that conviction. Wertheim’s detailed analysis of strategic planning before and during World War II shows that the pursuit of global primacy was a conscious choice, made by a foreign policy elite that equated ‘internationalism’ with the active creation of a world order based on U.S. military preponderance. Myths about the seductive dangers of ‘isolationism’ helped marginalize alternative perspectives, leaving armed dominance and military interventionism as the default settings for U.S. foreign policy. A carefully researched and beautifully written account, Tomorrow, the World sheds new light on a critical period in U.S. history and reminds us that internationalism can take many different forms. -- Stephen M. Walt, author of The Hell of Good IntentionsHow did the idea of American military supremacy come to be understood as essential and inevitable? In this important and beautifully crafted revisionist history, Stephen Wertheim shows the way a foreign policy consensus in favor of American predominance was forged as Hitler ransacked Europe. It became an assumed necessity after World War II, and later fueled military build-up and ongoing armed conflict. By revealing the contingent path of American global militarism, Wertheim makes an urgent and overdue reassessment possible. -- Mary L. Dudziak, author of War TimeExcellent…An important contribution to the history of U.S. foreign policy, and it is also relevant to contemporary debates about the proper U.S. role in the world. -- Daniel Larson * American Conservative *Forcefully argues that primacy-by-choice has had parlous consequences—for both the United States and the world. -- Susan L. Caruthers * Diplomatic History *One does not need to be universally opposed to all of American policy since the Second World War to see the immense value of this book in showing the ideological lineage we have inherited that distorts how we talk about Grand Strategy through the present. -- Christopher Mott * Global Security Review *Wertheim challenges the longstanding U.S. foreign policy by dismantling a narrative about American ‘isolationism’; in doing so, he provides the intellectual foundations for the reemergence of a truly liberal American grand strategy. -- Jennifer Lind * H-Diplo *He brings into sharp focus the doings of elites…America’s pursuit of global supremacy was, in his engaging and studious retelling, less the final outcome of long-simmering forces or of latent but unreasoned belief systems than a ‘deliberate decision’ made by a numerically small group of individuals at a very specific moment in time. -- Matthew Cantirino * Humanitas *A brisk, deeply researched, and thought-provoking revisionist history of the US foreign policy establishment surrounding World War II, pinpointing the moment when America abandoned its traditional mode of engagement in world affairs in favor of global hegemony underwritten by military force…This is an essential read for understanding how American empire came to seem permanent and inevitable—a topic very much relevant today. -- David Klion * Jewish Currents *Not only a sharp and well-argued historical analysis of American foreign policy, but also a persuasive political argument about America’s place in the world today…The rise of the American Empire was not facilitated by ‘absent-minded’ policy makers. Instead, the drafters of the plan were very much aware of their own ambitions while not necessarily sharing them with the wider public…An exceptionally readable blend of intellectual history, foreign policy and international theory. -- Or Rosenboim * Journal of Strategic Studies *Even readers who question Wertheim’s premises or differ from him on current policy will find much to learn in a concise, jargon-free study grounded on careful research. -- William Anthony Hay * Law & Liberty *Wertheim provides an important historical corrective to the notion that the United States sleepwalked into global supremacy…An important read. -- Charles Dunst * LSE Review of Books *In the wake of [WWII], decision makers regarded military restraint not as a virtue but as a recipe for chaos. Intervention was seen as inevitable, and isolationism became a dirty word. Politicians debated particular engagements, but they rarely questioned America's role as global cop…But as Wertheim reminds us, foreign policy elites chose to take on this role, and they can choose to leave it behind. -- Fiona Harrigan * Reason *Original…A bold and sweeping reinterpretation of history…It is also a tract for our times. As such, its key point is that the United States’ commitment to global military dominance arose from the specific, unforeseen and exceptional circumstances of 1940–41 and represented a departure from the nation’s previous path. -- John A. Thompson * S-USIH: Society for U.S. Intellectual History *A stimulating revisionist view that sees the move to world dominance as a conscious choice. * Choice *Wertheim…details the thinking behind America’s pursuit of global dominance from the 1940s to the present day in this impeccably researched debut history…This fine-grained account sheds new light on an era and a worldview too often obscured by gauzy patriotism. * Publishers Weekly *Influential…Since World War II, the U.S. idea of internationalism has become fatally intertwined with the idea of maintaining the United States’ global military dominance. -- Michael Hirsch * Foreign Policy *

Read more less

Book SynopsisInternational lawyer Philippe Sands has a unique insider''s view of the elites who govern our lives. His sensational revelations in Lawless World changed the political agenda overnight, forcing Tony Blair to publish damning mterial that he''d tried to hide.Now, in this updated edition with a shocking new chapter, you can get the full story of how the US and UK governments are riding roughshod over international agreements on human rights, war, torture and the environment - the very laws they put in place. Here sands looks at why global rules matter for all of us. And he powerfully makes the case for preserving them ... before justice becomes history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA contrarian yet highly engaging account of the spread of illiberal and anti-democratic sentiment throughout our culture that places responsibility on the citizens themselves.Over the past three decades, citizens of democracies who claim to value freedom, tolerance, and the rule of law have increasingly embraced illiberal politicians and platforms. Democracy is in trouble--but who is really to blame?In Our Own Worst Enemy, Tom Nichols challenges the current depictions of the rise of illiberal and anti-democratic movements in the United States and elsewhere as the result of the deprivations of globalization or the malign decisions of elites. Rather, he places the blame for the rise of illiberalism on the people themselves. Nichols traces the illiberalism of the 21st century to the growth of unchecked narcissism, rising standards of living, global peace, and a resistance to change. Ordinary citizens, laden with grievances, have joined forces with political entrepreneurs who thrive on the creation of rage rather than on the encouragement of civic virtue and democratic cooperation. While it will be difficult, Nichols argues that we need to defend democracy by resurrecting the virtues of altruism, compromise, stoicism, and cooperation--and by recognizing how good we''ve actually had it in the modern world.Trenchant, contrarian, and highly engaging, Our Own Worst Enemy reframes the debate about how democracies have ended up in this dire state of affairs and what to do about it.Trade ReviewWhile democracy does battle with other political ideologies * fascism, communism, socialismits most difficult battle is always with itself, the inherent contradiction that is both its greatest strength and most glaring vulnerability. The challenges we face in the 21st century are of a different magnitude, but rooted in this central truth: Democracy takes work. Tom Nichols' outstanding book is where we begin.Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media *Maybe it's not imaginary conspiracies but rather our own failures * moral, intellectual, politicalthat are leading Americans to support incompetent, inarticulate and even authoritarian politicians. That's the thesis that Tom Nichols argues amusingly and persuasively in this book before concluding that reform must begin from within.Anne Applebaum, staff writer for The Atlantic, and author of Twilight of Democracy *Nichols has nailed the problem that ails our democracies * and it is us: The narcissism, self-indulgence and nostalgia that come from a society in which the depth of our pockets are matched by the shallowness of our minds. Nichols neither gives into despair nor falls for simplistic solutions. He offers a wise, acute and unblinking measure of our failingsand the glimpse of a way out.Edward Luce, S national editor and columnist, Financial Times, and author of The Retreat of Western Liberalism *The eloquent jeremiad, that brilliant form of lamentation, is alive and well in the able hands of Tom Nichols. You don't have to agree with him on everything to appreciate his deep commitment to liberal democracy, his horror in the face of authoritarian demagoguery, and his call on democratic citizens to embrace knowledge and virtue. Nichols is that rarest of creatures, a happy scold who believes that deep down, even we terribly flawed human beings are capable of aspiring to higher purposes. * E. J. Dionne Jr, author of Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country *Taking freedom and democracy for granted is a fatal mistake. Our Own Worst Enemy explains why even the greatest nation on Earth isn't immune to the destructive effects of cynicism and ignorance. It is both a history lesson and a sharp examination of painful recent events. The forces of illiberalism are on the rise, and it's not clear that liberal democracy is up to the challenge. This book makes the essential case that ignoring politics is a luxury the citizens of the free world can no longer afford. Being a successful chessplayer requires understanding yourself and your own decision-making process. As Tom Nichols demonstrates in Our Own Worst Enemy, it turns out that's also required to be a successful country. America has enough enemies without turning on itself. * Garry Kasparov, Chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative, author of Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped, and the former world chess champion *There are few silver linings to the monstrous transformation of the American right: one has been discovering the stalwart minority of decent, intelligent, honest conservatives who fiercely and absolutely reject the party of Trump * such as Tom Nichols. Our Own Worst Enemy is his thoughtful and thought-provoking diagnosis of our urgent democratic crises, which provided me the important pleasure of enjoying, learning from, and arguing with it.Kurt Andersen, author of Evil Geniuses and Fantasyland *Nichols provides bleak but thought-provoking analysis... Our Own Worst Enemy is a blistering critique of twenty-first-century American politics. * Foreword Reviews *A searing critique of contemporary political culture and the rise of illiberalism on both the right and the left. * Publishers Weekly *A strong argument for civic reengagement. * Kirkus *Into this [political] morass parachutes Tom Nichols, with a meditation on the state of American democracy. * The Guardian *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: Our Own Worst Enemy 1. A Hunger for Apocalypse: The Perils of Peace and Plenty 2. The Nicest People You'll Ever Dislike: When Good Neighbors Are Bad Citizens 3. "Is There No Virtue among Us?" Democracy in an Age of Rage and Resentment 4. System Failure? Human Suffering and the Case against Liberal Democracy 5. Hello, I Hate You: How Hyper-Connection Is Destroying Democracy Conclusion: Is There a Road Back? Notes Index

Read more less