International relations Books

Book SynopsisThe evolution of the relationship between Cuba and the United States is much more complicated from the Cuban perspective than it is made to appear in mainstream media and political thinking. In this book, Arnold August highlights critical views from Cuba that are generally unfamiliar to non-Cubans. August outlines and analyzes current interactions and the future perspectives between the two neighbours. Included with August s careful analysis are interviews with five of Cuba s leading intellectuals, providing readers with a unique look into today s dynamic and complex relationship between these two countries. "Trade ReviewAn expert on Cuba, Arnold August offers a revealing view of the conflict between Washington and Havana and the foreign policy of the United States vis-a-vis the island. --Salim Lamrani, PhD Sorbonne Paris IV University, lecturer at the University of La Reunion"

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Book SynopsisFew people have sat across from the Iranians and the North Koreans at the negotiating table. Wendy Sherman has done both. During her time as the lead US negotiator of the historic Iran nuclear deal and throughout her distinguished career, Wendy Sherman has amassed tremendous expertise in the most pressing foreign policy issues of our time. Throughout her life-from growing up in civil-rights-era Baltimore, to stints as a social worker, campaign manager, and business owner, to advising multiple presidents-she has relied on values that have shaped her approach to work and leadership: authenticity, effective use of power and persistence, acceptance of change, and commitment to the team.Not for the Faint of Heart takes readers inside the world of international diplomacy and into the mind of one of our most effective negotiators-often the only woman in the room. She shows why good work in her field is so hard to do, and how we can learn to apply core skills of diplomacy to the challenges in our own lives.

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Book SynopsisA timely review of the historical narrative outlining policies, actions and impacts of state development between China and Tanzania.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive picture of budding initiatives that will make Africa a future global force.

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Book SynopsisWith the end of the Cold War came not the end of history, but the end of America's sense of its strategic purpose in the world. Then, after a decade of drift, the US was violently dragged back into international conflict. Its armed forces responded magnificently but its leaders' objectives were substantially flawed. We fought the wrong war,twice,for reasons that were opaque, and few American citizens understood the cause for which their sons and daughters were fighting and dying.War is a poor substitute for strategic vision, and decisions made in the heat of imminent conflict are often limited by the emotions of the moment. In Don't Wait for the Next War , Wesley K. Clark, a retired four-star general of the US army and former Democratic candidate for president, presents a compelling argument for continued American global leadership and the basis on which it can succeed,a new American strategy. America needs both new power and deeper perspective. The platform for American leadership is to use America's energy resources to spark sustainable economic growth, building new strength to deal with pressing domestic issues like the deficit as well as the longer term challenges to US security,terrorism, cyber threats, the next financial crisis, China's rising power, and climate change.Such a strategy is not only achievable but essential, and it is urgently needed. This is the true test of American leadership for the next two decades, but it must start now, so America has the power and vision to deal with the acute crises that will inevitably come,in the Mideast, Europe, or Asia.Trade Review" On most every count, he delivers an imaginative, tightly argued book that is full of salient details...Clark fills a vacuum in the nation's approach to strategy and shows all of us--soldiers, CEOs, entrepreneurs and politicians alike--how our country can again play to its strengths." --Army Magazine "The issues Clark raises are ones that every concerned (and voting) American ought to consider as we enter the next election cycle...The author writes clearly and keeps "policy wonk" language to a minimum." Library Journal "While Gen. Clark is perhaps best known for his 2004 presidential campaign on the Democratic ticket, his ideal national strategy has significant bipartisan appeal...This book is about much more than foreign or public policy. Gen. Clark tells fascinating tales about meetings with prominent officials from all over the world that offer insight into the strategic goals of other countries...The publishers of "Next War" could not have timed its release any better...You may not agree with Gen. Clark's strategies, but at least he is trying to elevate the national conversation with his fantastic new book." Seeking Alpha

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Book SynopsisIn this inside assessment of Barack Obama's foreign policy legacy, Derek Chollet tackles the prevailing consensus to argue that Obama has profoundly altered the course of American foreign policy for the better and positioned the United States to lead in the future. The Long Game combines a deep sense of history with new details and compelling insights into how the Obama Administration approached the most difficult global challenges. With the unique perspective of having served at the three national security power centres during the Obama years- the White House, State Department, and Pentagon- Chollet takes readers behind the scenes of the intense struggles over the most consequential issues: the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the meltdown of Syria and rise of ISIS, the Ukraine crisis and a belligerent Russia, the conflict in Libya, the tangle with Iran, the turbulent relationship with Israel, and the rise of new powers like China.An unflinching, fast-paced account of U.S. foreign policy, The Long Game reveals how Obama has defied the Washington establishment to redefine America's role in the world, offering important lessons for the next president.Trade Review"Derek Chollet offers a well-argued and convincing defence of President Obama's approach to the world. Chollet is an example of the kind of scholar-policymaker that is such a feature of American statecraft...Chollet's detailed and knowledgeable discussion of the policy options provides a revealing picture of the nature and complexity of the US's policy dilemmas."--Gideon Rachman, Financial Times "[Derek Chollet] is likely to be the closest anyone will come to understanding the thinking behind a foreign policy that has many critics..."--The Economist "A measured insider's account of President Barack Obama's foreign policy...[Chollet] relies on his heavyweight credentials and personal perspective in a spirited, thoughtful defense of how Obama responded to both George W. Bush's missteps and the spiraling chaos that has greeted his own goals...A cogent, detailed policy review." --Kirkus Reviews "Chollet has laid out a clear and compelling picture, and his text is positioned to become one of the definitive summaries of the Obama approach." --National Interest "Derek Chollet defines and explains the Obama foreign policy as grand strategy. The Long Game goes against the conventional wisdom of our moment. Though an insider's account, it views the present as history and puts down a marker that will shape how historians interpret the Obama years." --George Packer, author of The Assassins' Gate and The Unwinding "Foreign policy in the 21st century requires realism mixed with an element of idealism in order to navigate the intensifying anarchy of the world system. Derek Chollet shows this philosophy in action in this terrifically brisk, insider account of the Obama Administration's travails in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Agree with it or not, I know of no more compelling defense of Obama's record." --Robert D. Kaplan, Senior Fellow at The Center for a New American Security and author of In Europe's Shadow: Two Cold Wars and a Thirty-Year Journey Through Romania and Beyond

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Book SynopsisClive Hamilton has spent a life asking why. In his unique memoir, Provocateur, he shows us why questioning the status quo matters, how powerful arguments can change the country, and how the life of ideas in action actually works. From why climate change matters to how we understand ourselves as Australians and the dangers to us of the new authoritarianism – all this and more has been shaped, for better or worse, by public researchers and writers like Hamilton. His work, and that of the Australia Institute he founded, made him many friends as well as powerful enemies. He’s been denounced in federal parliament, black-handed by the Chinese Communist Party and sued by an angry corporation. He’s had to call in the police after death threats and take a crash course in counter-surveillance techniques. But he has also influenced the quality of the air Australians breathe, the cost of our education and how we see Australia’s place in the world. In Provocateur, we see the passions, the doubts, the strategising, the fears, the victories, the mistakes and the questioning. Here is a blueprint for changing public debate in our increasingly uncertain times – proof that ideas are powerful and that a different way into the future is possible. Trade Review'Clive Hamilton has been threatened, vilified and banned for confronting power. Provocateur is the gripping story of his global actions against exploiters, profiteers and autocrats. Engaging, enraging and entertaining.' – Bob Brown 'Clive Hamilton is a great asset to public life in Australia... This public intellectual not only thinks but feels.' – Tim Rouse, The Canberra Times'Clive Hamilton is a great asset to public life in Australia... This public intellectual not only thinks but feels.' -- Tim Rowse * The Canberra Times *

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Book SynopsisToday, more than ever, we live in a global world. Whether it’s war, economics, politics, or law, our lives are influenced by a complex web of cross-border transactions. Dr Charles Jones ably provides the building blocks to understand these interactions, outlining the competing theories that attempt to explain them. Arguing that the strength of International Relations lies in its contradictions – it’s not a single discipline but a fascinating mess of history, politics, economics, sociology, law, anthropology, and cultural studies – he provides a lively discussion of the limitations of the field, but also why it is so essential. Covering conflict, history, and theory, and with a major focus on the global economy, this is the perfect primer for aspiring students of International Relations, workers in an international context, and citizens across the globe.Trade Review'The most useful introduction I have seen of its kind. Readers can profit from the entire book, or use it as a reference to learn about institutions, the global economy, armed conflict and the similarities and differences among history, foreign policy and international relations, in practice and theory.' -- Richard Ned Lebow, Professor of International Political Theory, Kings College London'Jones has written a superb introduction to the theory and practice of international relations. It is genuinely innovatory, transcending many of the current debates and reformulating the way that the subject is conventionally presented. By the end of the book he has laid bare the complex connections between theory and practice and demonstrated clearly and concisely the philosophical assumptions that necessarily underpin the field. It is an introduction that is both ground clearing and ground breaking.' -- Richard Little, Professor Emeritus in International Relations, University of Bristol

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Book SynopsisWhile the Occupy movement faces many strategic and organizational challenges, one of its major accomplishments has been to draw global attention to the massive disparity of income, wealth and privilege held by 1% of the population in nations across the world. In The 1% and the Rest of Us, Tim Di Muzio explores what it means to be part of a socio-economic order presided over by the super-rich and their political servants. Incorporating provocative and original arguments about philanthropy, social wealth and the political role of the super-rich, Di Muzio reveals how the 1% are creating a world unto themselves in which the accumulation of ever more money is really a symbolic drive to control society and the natural environment.Trade ReviewDistills the concepts of capitalism, political economy, finance, inequality, the profligacy of the 1%-ers, and much more in morally coherent chunks of need-to-know information. It is a superb book. * Dissident Voice *Capital is power, wealth is social, the rich are undeserving, growth is unsustainable. In this timely book Di Muzio takes aim not only at the emergence of a global super rich, but also at the ideologies of wealth generation that keep them in their place and us in ours - an indignant call to put people and planet above profit and status. * Amin Samman, City University London *Tim Di Muzio debunks the radically antisocial belief that wealth is the sole result of individual efforts and talents. His contribution is novel and original, but it is also a significant part of a growing clamour for change. * Danny Dorling, author of Inequality and the 1% and Population 10 Billion *Tim Di Muzio has produced a remarkable book: remarkable for its original reading of available evidence on the rise of the 1%; remarkable for the creative interweaving of empirical findings and theoretical insights; and remarkable for its politicization of the inequality issue. Di Muzio gives the Capital as Power approach a concrete and down-to-earth bite. * Henk Overbeek, VU University Amsterdam *A highly accessible must-read primer for anyone interested in the world's dominant capital, its incessant drive to accumulate power, and the impact this has on our lives and future. * Jonathan Nitzan, co-author of Capital as Power *This compelling and original work is a must read: it brilliantly illuminates a world dominated by a tiny, immensely powerful ruling class who have accumulated enormous wealth, even during the global economic crisis. It explains why and how that has happened , who they are, and not least how such plutocratic power can be resisted and transformed to better serve the majority of people on the planet. * Stephen Gill, York University, Toronto *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Towards a Global Political Economy of the 1% 1. The Unusual Suspects: Identifying the Global 1% 2. Capital as Power and the 1% 3. Wealth, Money and Power 4. Differential Consumption: The Rise of Plutonomy 5. Society vs. the Superman Theory of Wealth 6. The Party of the 99%: Resistance and Future Prospects

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Book SynopsisHow can Islam be understood in the context of internal struggles for unity and identity, a rise in anti-Muslim hate crime and continued media portrayals of violence, extremism, warfare and oppression? Looking at Islam as a faith, a whole system with political dimensions and through the lens of Western media, this book sets out to clarify the nature of true Islam and the true nature of Islam.With diverse contributions from Muslims, Christians and individuals with no religious affiliations, this collection of essays respond to the King of Jordan's Amman Message - an initiative seeking to clarify Islam as a religion of peace - in light of recent international events such as the Charlie Hebdo controversy. Presenting fresh perspectives on a frequently misrepresented religion, this book offers a platform for debate about Islam's place within Western culture and political systems, and the role that faith communities can play in seeking peace and reconciliation.Trade ReviewThe book is coming at the right time with a powerful message of hope. By featuring for the first time ever in Europe the richness and the depth of the Amman Message, it gives to everyone - policy makers, media, the public - the tools for a new understanding about Islam and the Muslim World and their true nature. An inspiring call for dialogue, respect and peace. -- Jean-Christophe Bas, Founder and CEO, The Global CompassWe have never more needed a greater understanding of both Islamic extremism and Western Islamophobia than now. This collection of essays is a real contribution to that understanding. Bridges are more difficult to build than walls, and these essays, in their accessible and reflective tones, aim to make a difference more than a point. Their purpose is to ensure that the gift of diversity is not curdled into the curse of division and they know the path to making this happen can only open up by challenging misconceptions on every side. -- Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor, St Paul’s CathedralIn a world in which ISIS and other terrorists are a global threat and Islamophobia has grown exponentially, Muslim Identity in a Turbulent Age will be welcomed by policymakers and the general public alike. This timely volume discusses and demonstrates the importance of The Amman Message, a major statement by hundreds of major global Muslim leaders and scholars written as a refutation and delegitimation of violent extremism and terrorism in the name of Islam. -- John L. Esposito, University Professor of Religion & International Affairs and author of The Future of IslamHardy, Mughal, and Markiewicz believe the core Islamic identity to be in flux. Muslims search for identity amid an internal struggle for unity in the Muslim world, increases in anti-Muslim hate crimes outside the Muslim world, and continued media portrayals of violence, tyranny, and extremism; the authors observe that it can be difficult for today's Muslim, or non-Muslim, to truly comprehend what Islam is. This book takes up the Amman Message, a statement issued by the king of Jordan in 2004 that calls for tolerance and unity among Muslims, and offers a variety of perspectives from Muslims, Christians, and others about the place of Islam in Western culture and the role that communities of faith can play in pursuing peace. The collection includes a truly diverse array of voices and, consequently, the various contributions vary in quality and impact. However, the work as a whole is a valuable starting point for education, dialogue, and efforts at reconciliation. As Muslims battle over what 'true Islam' is and is not, and anti-Muslim sentiment in the West rises in both frequency and intensity, this book could not be timelier. This accessible, on point, and very useful collection will serve peacemakers at various levels and respects their varying points of view. (Jan.) -- Publishers WeeklyTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Foreword by HRH Charles, Prince of Wales. Foreword by HRH Prince Hussein bin Abdullah. Timeline. Introduction. 1. The History of the Amman Message and the Promotion of the Amman Message Project. Sarah Markiewicz, Research and Teaching Associate, Department of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. 2. Taking the Amman Message to European Audiences: A Message for Muslims and Non-Muslims Alike. Mike Hardy, CMG OBE FRSA, Founding and Executive Director, Centre for Trust Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, UK. 3. Islam in Europe and the Amman Message: Overview Challenges and Potentials. Rebecca Catto. Assistant Professor of Sociology, Kent State University, Ohio, USA. 4. Islam in the United Kingdom and the Impact of the Amman Message. Fiyaz Mughal, OBE FCMI, Founder and Director, Faith Matters, UK. 5. Young British Muslims: Online Extremism and the Message of Islam. Imran Awan, Associate Professor in Criminology, Birmingham City University, UK. 6. The Amman Message: An Early Confrontation with Extremist Islamic Movements. Jamal Al-Shalabi. Professor of Political Science, Department of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Hashemite University of Jordan, Jordan, 7. The Amman Message: A Counter Narrative to Islamic Fundamentalism. Moh'd Khair Eiedat, Professor for Political Science, Al-Hussain Bin Abdullah II Faculty for International Studies and Political Science, and Director of the Al-Farabi Centre for Culture, Ethics and Politics, University of Jordan, Jordan. 8. The Amman Message as an Invitation to Interfaith Dialogue: A Christian Response. Christine Seeberg, Research and Teaching Associate, Department of Systematic Theology and Dogmatics, Theological Faculty, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. 9. Charlie Hebdo and the Amman Message: A Counter Narrative to Violent Fundamentalism? Steve Rose, Freelance Writer and Journalist, UK. & Faith Matters. 10. The Amman Message 'Other': Repositioning Identity Politics for Dialogue and Justice. Kristin Shamas, Hamra Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of History, University of Oklahoma, USA. 11. Looking Forward: An Impossible Road? Mike Hardy, Fiyaz Mughal and Sarah Markiewicz. Appendix I: The Amman Message (2004). Appendix II: The Three Points of the Amman Message (2005) [Official Version]. Further Reading. The Contributors.

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Book Synopsis'Fascinating' Guardian, 'Book of the Day''A truly masterly book... A tour de force that will be read for a very long time.' Peter HennessySelected by the New Statesman as an essential read for 2022Britain shaped the modern Middle East through the lines that it drew in the sand after the First World War and through the League of Nations mandates over the fledgling states that followed. Less than forty years later, the Suez crisis dealt a fatal blow to Britain's standing in the Middle East and is often represented as the final throes of British imperialism. However, as this insightful and compelling new book reveals, successive prime ministers have all sought to extend British influence in the Middle East and their actions have often led to a disastrous outcome.While Anthony Eden and Tony Blair are the two most prominent examples of prime ministers whose reputations have been ruined by their interventions in the region, they were not alone in taking significant risks in deploying British forces to the Middle East. There was an unspoken assumption that Britain could help solve its problems, even if only for the reason that British imperialism had created the problems in the first place.Drawing these threads together, Nigel Ashton explores the reasons why British leaders have been unable to resist returning to the mire of the Middle East, while highlighting the misconceptions about the region that have helped shape their interventions, and the legacy of history that has fuelled their pride and arrogance. Ultimately, he shows how their fears and insecurities made them into false prophets who conjured existential threats out of the sands of the Middle East.Trade ReviewFascinating... Diary entries, telegrams, diplomatic records and, where possible, interviews with aides and advisers help bring out the psychology, preoccupations and prejudices that framed British decision making. The result is an empathetic but not a sympathetic account. * Guardian, 'Book of the Day' *Ashton gives an authoritative account of this familiar saga... He unravels the diplomatic and political intricacies with enviable skill. -- Piers Brendon * Literary Review *A truly masterly book on a crucial running theme of British history since 1945. It is rich in scholarship, laced with insight and burnished with fluency. Nigel Ashton has a special feel for that fissile terrain where oil, sand, geopolitics and UK foreign policy meet. It is second only to the European Question as a wrecker of premierships and political reputations. False Prophets is a tour de force that will be read for a very long time. -- Peter Hennessy, author of WINDS OF CHANGEEngaging... Ashton frames his study through the lens of 10 Downing Street, showing how its occupants, from Anthony Eden to David Cameron, dealt with successive postwar crises in the world's most hydrocarbon-rich, but politically volatile, region... It has the advantage of shaping a cacophony of confusing events into a highly readable narrative. * Financial TImes *A fascinating and challenging insight into the twists and turns of Britain's relationship with the Middle East. Prime ministers and their diplomatic advisers must understand this history if we are to get better at understanding this region in the future. -- Tom Fletcher, author of THE NAKED DIPLOMATAs Nigel Ashton details in his insightful book False Prophets, successive British prime ministers have been lured into the quick-sands of the Middle East by an exaggerated sense of the threat emanating from the region and by the desire to enhance the UK's "special relationship" with the US. Too often, Britain's over-estimation of its ability to control events led to interventions that proved detrimental to national interests and compounded the region's problems. -- Emma Sky, author of THE UNRAVELLINGA masterful new account of the perceptions and underlying motivations that swept a succession of British prime ministers into (often messy) entanglements in the Middle East, post-1955. Superbly researched and written with tempo, this is a brilliant book; one which will be enjoyed by professional historians and general readers alike - not least because the author has a special eye for those small yet revealing, sometimes ironic, often amusing, moments that history can so delightfully throw our way. -- Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO of the International Peace InstituteThis is an outstanding book, combining a wide-ranging knowledge of the history of the Middle East and of successive prime ministers, interwoven with a vital understanding of Anglo-American relations. It is both stimulating and very well-written. -- Kathleen Burk, Professor Emerita of Modern and Contemporary History, University College LondonAs if Anthony Eden's tragic missteps over Suez in 1956 were not warning enough, this lively, sobering account shows how British prime ministers have continued to get drawn into Middle Eastern affairs, often at a high political cost and with little foreign policy gain. -- Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College LondonNigel Ashton's fascinating, sweeping study, lively and detailed, is of all prime ministers trying to exert their personal authority in the Middle East and to sustain the idea of Britain as a world power. It is a history of ambitions, egos, imperiousness, interventions and often failure, with painful legacies, and it is written with an expert's grasp. -- Dr James Ellison, Reader in History, Queen Mary, University of LondonVivid and salutary. * The Tablet *This fascinating book makes a strong case that the volatile mixture of history, economic interests and personal convictions it describes will continue to exert a fateful fascination for British prime ministers. -- Peter Ricketts * Engelsberg Ideas *Table of Contents1: Anthony Eden: Suezcide of a Statesman 2: Macmillan's Hot Pursuit of Nasser 3: Douglas-Home's War in Yemen 4: A Tale of Two Kisses: Harold Wilson, George Brown and the Middle East 5: Heath's Day of Atonement 6: Callaghan's 'Local Terrorist Made Good' 7: Arms and the Woman: Margaret Thatcher and the Middle East 8: Major's Safe Haven 9: The Next Stage of Evil: Tony Blair and the Middle East 10: In Blair's Shadow: Gordon Brown and the Middle East 11: Cameron and the Arab Spring

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Book SynopsisSince the turn of the century bilateral trade between China and Latin America has increased by more than a factor of ten. In 2000, two-way trade stood at £12.17 billion; by 2019, it had reached $307.94 billion. Coupled with this commercial element of China-Latin America relations is a growing assertiveness in diplomatic and military affairs. Yet Beijing is showing caution in its diplomatic engagement, especially with the more left leaning countries of Venezuela and Ecuador. However, Latin America’s enthusiasm in this regard has taken even the Chinese by surprise. What are we to make of these shifting dynamics? In this detailed and up-to-the-minute investigation, Chris Alden, author of the critically acclaimed China in Africa, and Alvaro Mendez, leading expert in the international relations of Latin America, look at the interests, strategies and practices of China’s incoming power. What can be learned by comparing Latin America with other developing regions in which China has had significant economic ties and a growing diplomatic stake? Does Beijing’s approach to Latin America really differ, as is often claimed by Chinese leaders, from its approach to Africa? And more broadly, how should we read the curious and uneven decline of both the US and Europe as actors in the region?Trade ReviewThis book offers a comprehensive reflection not only on the current political context but also leads us through the background history that has shaped the present-day dynamics. Undoubtedly, China and Latin America will be an enjoyable read for students, professionals and the general public with an interest in the complex contemporary political issues presented in Alden and Méndez’s study. * LSE *[A]ddresses topical trends and provides practical, incisive, and clear insights into crucial policy issues that would strongly appeal to a readership of policy makers, economic, media and political analysists, third sector professionals, and the general public. * Global Policy *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Global China, Latin America and the Winds of Change 1. Silver, Railroads and Migrants: Imperial China and the Making of Latin America 2. From Comrades to Capitalists: China’s Cold War in Latin America and Its Rise as a Global Economic Power 3. Chile, Peru and Argentina: Riding the Tiger 4. Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia: Incautious Embrace 5. Brazil: Partnership to Populism 6. Mexico: Competition and Cooperation 7. Central America and the Caribbean: Dollar Diplomacy and Development 8. Global China, the United States and the New Geopolitics of Latin America

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Book SynopsisHow did China become China? And where is it leading us? We talk as if it had always existed: eternal China with its 5,000 years of uninterrupted history. But the name 'China' was first used by sixteenth-century Europeans, and its Chinese equivalent, Zhongguo, only gained currency in the mid-1800s. China Imagined is a thoughtful exploration of the idea of China, from the naming and mapping of its territory and peoples to the creation and rise of the modern nation-state. China's early history describes a multilingual space, ruled by a homogeneous elite with its own minority culture--a far cry from Maoism's national mass culture, or Xi Jinping's state-controlled digital society today. Gregory Lee traces this complex, diverse entity's evolution since the Opium Wars into a China made in 'our' image. Today, it is a great power integral to the global system, whether it comes to climate change, security or inequality. Given this rapid convergence with the West, Xi's China holds up a mirror to our own nations. Trump's America, Putin's Russia and post- Brexit Europe all betray echoes of the 'Chinese Dream'. If China is a product of Westernisation, is it now the West's turn to become China? Trade Review'As Gregory Lee shows, this debate has gripped the world’s most populous country for more than a century.'‘What is China? Where has it come from? What is the relationship between a founding myth and national identity? Does it matter how old China is? What is the relationship between national narrative, authoritarianism and totalitarianism? Lee provides possible answers in a Chinese context, but also elegantly stimulates questions relevant to many other nations past and present.’ -- Asian Affairs JournalThis richly provocative text, written with verve and urgency, has something to say to all scholars of China, past and present. Its broad reach and moral grasp enable penetrating questions about exactly what it is we think we are studying when we study China. -- Craig Clunas, Professor Emeritus of the History of Art, University of Oxford, and author of 'Art in China'An erudite and trenchant analysis of a political, cultural, social, ethnic, and linguistic world that has taken many shapes under several different historical pressures. Each chapter contains a wealth of information, presented clearly and vividly. One could not wish for a better guide and interpreter than Gregory Lee. -- David Palumbo-Liu, Professor of Comparative Literature, Stanford UniversityA powerfully stimulating book exploring China from an impressively diverse array of angles and disciplines. Lee shows that, far from an ancient relic, China is a young, modern nation racing headlong into the future. The chapters on language alone are worth their weight in gold. -- Victor H. Mair, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Pennsylvania'If there's one word to describe Gregory Lee's book, it's iconoclastic. Bristling with ideas and insights leavened by his vast knowledge and understanding of 'things Chinese', this sweeping account lays the ground for a new reading of both China and the Western imagination of it.' -- Michael Dutton, Professor of Politics, Goldsmiths University of London, and author of 'Beijing Time'This fascinating work questions conventional thinking with a complex analysis of modern and premodern Chinese history. Lee situates contemporary China in its historical context of dispersed and localised premodern empires, reconstituted as today's nation through European perspectives and globalisation. -- Lu Tonglin, Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Montreal

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Book SynopsisIn early 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran marked its fortieth anniversary, despite decades of isolation, political pressure, sanctions and war. Observers of its security policies continue to try and make sense of this unlikely endurance. Though there are significant disagreements about the Islamic Republic's thinking and intentions, virtually everyone agrees that its policies are fundamentally different from those pursued by their monarchical predecessors. 'No Conquest, No Defeat' offers a historically grounded overview of Iranian national security. Tabatabai argues that Iranian strategic thinking is perhaps best characterised by its dynamic yet resilient nature, one that is continually evolving and whose foundations were laid out decades ago. To understand Iran's national security thinking and policies today, one must examine them in their historical context. As the Islamic Republic enters its fifth decade, this book sheds new light on Iran's controversial nuclear and missile programmes, and its involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.Trade Review‘No Conquest, No Defeat: Iran’s National Security Strategy argues convincingly that rather than being divorced from pre-revolutionary Iran, the Islamic Republic is no different fundamentally in terms of its strategic thinking; it presents thought-provoking reasons as to why this is so. This helps to explain Iran’s diplomatic posturing and foreign policies for those who hold preconceived notions that it is an irrational and non-pragmatic state.’ -- Middle East Monitor

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Book SynopsisRelations between Israel and the Gulf states are not anything new. In the immediate aftermath of the 1993 Oslo Accords, both Qatar and Oman established low-level yet open diplomatic ties with Israel. In 2010, Ha'aretz reported that the former Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, was on friendly terms with Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Zayed, her counterpart from the UAE, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties between the two states. The shared suspicion towards the regional designs of Iran that undoubtedly underpinned these ties even extended, it was alleged, to a secret dialogue between Israel and Saudi Arabia, led by the late Meir Dagan, the former head of Mossad. Cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia in thwarting Iran's regional ambitions also casts light on Washington's lack of strategic leadership, which had previously been the totem around which Israel and the Gulf states had based regional security strategies. Jones and Guzansky contend that, at the very least, ties between Israel and many of its Gulf counterparts are now more vibrant than hitherto realised. They constitute a tacit security regime which, while based on hard power interests, does not preclude competition in other areas. Ultimately, these relations are helping shape a new regional order in the Middle East.Trade Review‘Thorough, detailed, and timely.’ -- Foreign AffairsA compact and well-written book.’ -- Survival‘A timely contribution to Middle Eastern studies, raising more questions in the reader’s mind, in addition to providing a wide historical perspective on controversies and conflicts of interest.’ -- Global Policy‘Fraternal Enemies is a must read … an excellent theoretical roadmap, reinforced by superb empirics … [this] prescient and timely account … represents a welcome addition to the shelf of policymakers and scholars seeking a nuanced realist theorisation of conflict and cooperation in the Middle East.’ -- LSE Review of Books‘'Fraternal Enemies' meticulously documents the dramatic increase in high-level engagement and co-operation between Israel and the Arab Gulf monarchies… Clive Jones and Yoel Guzansky have produced a critically important framework through which to understand the complexities surrounding the new regional order. Fraternal Enemies is an essential read for anyone hoping to understand the intricacies of the evolving relationship and the latest shift in contemporary Middle East politics.’'One could not imagine a timelier book ... Jones and Guzansky offer us a very useful guide to Israel-Gulf relations that is well-researched, theoretically informed, and empirically based.' -- The Middle East Journal'Jones and Guzansky’s study offers an insightful […] examination of the bilateral relationships that Israel has forged with some of the Sunni Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Their work clearly merits the close attention of everyone with an interest in this aspect of Israeli foreign policy.' -- Israel Affairs'Fresh, perceptive and extremely timely. Jones and Guzansky paint a vivid picture of the relationship between Israel and the Gulf States. A treasure trove of rich empirical data that adds much to our knowledge of an important and critical topic.' -- Mehran Kamrava, Professor and Director of the Center for International and Regional Studies at Georgetown University Qatar’s School of Foreign Service'A clear, succinct and very useful guide for exploring this rapidly developing topic. Jones and Guzansky set out for readers the sum of Israel-Gulf relations as they have developed historically and where they stand today.' -- Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy'An impeccably sourced and rigorously analytical account of how shared hostility to Iran and Islamists has forged increasingly visible security and trade links between Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states, despite the continuing impasse in the ever-emotive Palestinian question.' -- Ian Black, author of 'Enemies and Neighbours: Arabs and Jews in Palestine and Israel, 1917-2017'

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Book SynopsisIn this groundbreaking book, Raghavan uses previously untapped archival sources to weave together new stories about the experiences of post-partition state-making in South Asia. Through meticulous research, it challenges the existing wisdom about the preponderance of animosity and the rhetoric of war. The book shows how amity and a spirit of cordiality governed relations between the states of India and Pakistan in the first five years after partition. Arguing that a hitherto overlooked set of considerations have to be integrated more closely into the analysis of bilateral dialogue, this book analyses the developments leading to the No War correspondence between Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan, the signing of a 'Minorities' Pact between the two prime ministers, and the early stages of the Indus Waters negotiations, as well as exploring the calculations of Indian and Pakistani delegates at a series of interdominion conferences held in the years after partition. This book will be of interest to specialists in histories of diplomatic practice as well as a general audience in search of narratives of peace in the South Asia region.Trade Review‘Animosity at Bay [provides] a fresh look at a historical period that has always haunted popular imagination.’ -- The Mumbai Mirror'Fascinating… Raghavan’s well-crafted book provides, from history, a rare cause for optimism.' -- International Affairs'Offers a ringside look at this dialogue and problem-solving between India and Pakistan, and how that process formed an integral part of state formation and in a sense, solidified partition.' -- Economic & Political Weekly'[Animosity at Bay] presents a new view by its explanations and descriptions of the work of the Indian and Pakistani officials who, under the direction of Pandit Nehru on the Indian side and Liaquat Ali Khan, the founder of Pakistan, negotiated solutions [that] reduced the threats of violence and halted moves towards military conflict during the years 1947–1952.' -- Asian Affairs Journal'In the 74-year-old history of India and Pakistan, it is the more recent memory of terrorist attacks in Mumbai and other places, that tends to overpower the monstrosity of partition and the visuals of endless streams of refugees. The two countries lurch between wars and failed peace moves and function in a state of suspended hostility. The fog of war, terrorism and partition often obscures the fact that these were two new states that were formed in 1947 and that history of how they evolved, with bilateral engagement forming a crucial part of this process, is a fascinating and important one. Pallavi Raghavan's "Animosity at Bay: An Alternative History of the India-Pakistan Relationship, 1947-1952" offers a ringside look at this dialogue and problem-solving between India and Pakistan, and how that process formed an integral part of state formation and in a sense, solidified partition.' -- Economic and Political Weekly‘A fascinating account of how, in the shadow of a bloody Partition, India and Pakistan worked to create bilateral spaces of mutuality and reciprocity, collaboration and cooperation, to address the most pressing issues of the time—from citizenship and the rights of minorities, to property, water sharing, and trade—even as they embarked upon the arduous task of state-making. This marvellous alternative history of a foundational period has particular resonance for the contemporary moment.’ -- Niraja G. Jayal, Professor at the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University'A pioneering and timely intervention at a critical time for one of the world’s most dangerous regions. Raghavan’s sober analysis of cooperation as well as conflict challenges the dominant perception of India-Pakistan relations as the site of uncompromising hostility.' -- Farzana Shaikh, Associate Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme, Chatham House, and author of Making Sense of Pakistan'The most original study yet written of one of the world's oldest conflicts, Pallavi Raghavan's history of Indo-Pakistani relations revolutionises the genre. It does so by looking at how this conflict is defined more by what the two countries share than their differences, which is what makes it so intractable.' -- Faisal Devji, Professor of Indian History and Director of the Asian Studies Centre, University of Oxford‘An outstanding and pioneering account of cooperation and collaboration between India and Pakistan in the early years after partition. This revisionist study is sure to become the definitive work on that period and essential reading for those seeking fresh historical insights into the troubled relationship.’ -- Amitabh Mattoo, Professor of Disarmament Studies, Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament (CIPOD), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

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Book SynopsisFaisal Devji argues that new forms of militancy, such as the actions of al-Qaeda, are informed by the same desire for agency and equality that animates other humanitarian interventions, such as environmentalism and pacifism. To the militant, victimized Muslims are more than just symbols of ethnic and religious persecution-they represent humanity's centuries-long struggle for legitimacy and agency. Acts of terror, therefore, are fueled by the militant's desire to become a historical actor on the global stage. Though they have yet to build concrete political institutions, militant movements have formed a kind of global society, and as Devji makes clear, this society pursues the same humanitarian objectives that drive more benevolent groups.Trade Review'A brilliant long essay on the ethical underpinnings of modern jihad.''An oasis in the wearisome desert of al-Qaeda studies. It is, in the best possible sense, subversive.''Thought-provoking, and elegantly written.''One of the most intelligent analyses of the world-view of the militant Islamist.''An erudite analysis of the rise of jihadism as almost a new 'sect' within Islam-one that combines mystical and traditional elements of Islam with a sophisticated globalization effort based on an ethical, rather than political, worldview.'

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Book SynopsisAmerica's wars after the 9/11 attacks were marked by a political obsession with terrorist 'sanctuaries' and 'safe havens'. From mountain redoubts in Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq, Washington's policy-makers maintained an unwavering focus on finding and destroying the refuges, bases and citadels of modern guerrilla movements, and holding their sponsors to account. This was a preoccupation embedded in nearly every official speech and document of the time, a corpus of material that offered a new logic for thinking about the world. As an exercise in political communication, it was a spectacular success. From 2001 to 2009, President George W. Bush and his closest advisors set terms of reference that cascaded down from the White House, through government and into the hearts and minds of Americans. 'Sanctuary' was the red thread running through all of it, permeating the decisions and discourses of the day. Where did this obsession come from? How did it become such an important feature of American political life? In this new political history, Michael A.K.G. Innes explores precedents, from Saigon to Baghdad, and traces how decision-makers and their advisors used ideas of sanctuary to redefine American foreign policy, national security, and enemies real and imagined.Trade Review'In Streets Without Joy, Michael Innes combines applied history and theory to explore how the dominant discourses of rebel "sanctuaries" and terrorist "safe havens" shaped the way in which the US waged war in the 9/11 era. The writing is compelling, and the author's constant attention to methodology and sense of time and place are deeply impressive. Not only is this intellectually ambitious book a fitting tribute to Bernard Fall, whose life and work inspired the author's own journey from practitioner to scholar; it is a singular achievement in its own right, one that demands the attention of every scholar of modern warfare.' -- Joe Maiolo, Professor of International History, King's College London'Innes' important book explores an understudied element of American foreign policy discourse. The author illustrates that the post-9/11 rhetoric about enemy sanctuaries in Afghanistan and Iraq was far from new; instead it drew on a long history that was both deeply embedded in and had a significant impact on policymaking.' -- Andrew Priest, Department of History, University of Essex'Extremely readable, lucidly stated and focused, Innes' analysis is enhanced by a sharp eye for concrete situations and an ear for the voices of people he has met up with in the course of his career. This book not only traces the history of sanctuaries since the Second World War it also offers a penetrating analysis of our own world of frontlines, "back alleys" and "safe" and "not-so-safe" spaces that defy sovereign jurisdiction.' -- Christopher Coker, Director of LSE IDEAS'Michael Innes provides an authoritative investigation into the origins, multiple meanings, use and abuse of America´s post-9/11 sanctuary discourse. Original and compelling, this book provokes numerous trains of thought that will serve to fertilise many new fields of War on Terrorism scholarship' -- Jeffrey Michaels, Senior Fellow, Barcelona Institute of International Studies‘In the aftermath of 9/11, the US military and CIA launched an unprecedented, 20 year “sanctuary denial” campaign that saw hundreds of thousands of troops and operatives deployed across the globe. But, even as CIA drone fleets wiped out Al Qaeda and Special Forces hunted ISIS insurgents in the “ungoverned spaces” of distant deserts, islands, and mountains, it became apparent to political scientist Michael Innes that the Pentagon had not begun to truly understand the underlying basis for America’s entire war and counter-terrorism effort; the concept of sanctuary. It is with the aim of chronicling, for the first time, the fundamental notion of sanctuary in America’s wars that Innes takes readers on a truly ground-breaking and riveting journey into the history of this concept that launched the superpower’s longest conflict. This story begins unexpectedly in the jungles of Vietnam in the 1960s and extends all the way to the hallways of power in Trump’s Washington D.C.’ -- Brian Glyn Williams. Author of Counter Jihad and former CIA Counter-Terrorism Center analyst‘Soldier-scholar Michael Innes’ Streets Without Joy is an especially timely and important contribution to the literature. His first-hand experience coupled with his grasp and analysis of the historical salience of this issue as well as its relevance to contemporary conflicts, is as original as it is insightful.’ -- Bruce Hoffman, Professor at Georgetown University and author of Inside Terrorism‘A timely, policy-relevant work that performs a tremendous service by arguing that rhetoric matters when it comes to war. In a series of insightful case studies, Innes perceptively examines how policymakers and military leaders define “terrorist sanctuaries” and “safe havens,” often in ways that undermine their own national security objectives.’ -- Gregory A. Daddis, USS Midway Chair in Modern U.S. Military History, San Diego State University'Despite their critical importance in armed conflicts, wartime sanctuaries rarely receive the scholarly scrutiny the topic deserves. In this highly readable book, Innes connects the dots with his fine analysis of half a century of US wartime sanctuary discourses, offering much new insight into a highly policy-relevant theme.’ -- Brynjar Lia, Professor of Middle East Studies, University of Oslo‘Michael Innes’ book on sanctuaries is an indispensable guide to an issue that has been central to the wars and security debates of the past generation – and will continue to be in future.’ -- Anatol Lieven, author of Pakistan: A Hard Country.'Michael Innes perceptively illuminates a construct that shaped the last twenty years of war, with tragic implications for millions of people, but which few have ever heard of. If you want to understand how the War on Terror went so awry, read this book.' -- David Kilcullen, author of The Dragons and the Snakes

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Book SynopsisCovid-19 is reshaping and challenging governments, societies and economies in previously unimaginable ways--but gangsters and profiteers have adapted. They have found new routes for illegal commodities, from narcotics to people. Shortages, lockdowns and public attitudes have brought the underworld and upperworld closer together, as criminals strive to meet needs, maximise opportunities and fill governance vacuums. Unscrupulous fraudsters are touting fake remedies to desperate people: counterfeit drugs, and trafficked wildlife used in traditional medicine. Social distancing and restrictions have seen online transactions and cyber-ops replacing or supplementing physical shipments, opening opportunities for scammers and hackers. Heavy-handed state responses have created new illicit markets by prohibiting the sale of particular goods and services, while some elites have capitalised on the pandemic for personal or political gain. Covid has cast a long shadow over the rule of law. Criminal Contagion uncovers its extraordinary impacts on the global illicit economy, and their long-term implications.Trade Review'[Criminal Contagion] provides a chilling revelation as to the ways in which the coronavirus pandemic has enabled the international underworld to thrive.' -- Geographical Magazine

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, the geopolitical rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has dominated the headlines. Many have charted the polarisation between a Saudi-led Sunni camp and an Iranian-led Shia one, assuming that a predominantly Shia state like Iraq would automatically ally with Iran. In this compelling account, Katherine Harvey tells a different story: Iraq's alignment with Iran was not a foregone conclusion. Rather, Saudi efforts to undermine Iran have paradoxically empowered it. Harvey investigates why the Saudis refused to engage with Iraq's post-2003 Shia-led government, despite continual outreach by Iraq's new leaders and considerable pressure from the United States. She finds that certain deeply ingrained assumptions predisposed Saudi leaders to see a Shia-led Iraq as naturally beholden to Iran: the view that Iran is inherently expansionist, and the belief that Arab Shia tend to be loyal to it. This outlook was simplistic, even downright inaccurate; and, in refusing to engage, the Saudis created a self-fulfilling prophecy. As Harvey demonstrates, members of Iraq's new government initially sought to establish a positive relationship with Saudi Arabia, and to pursue a course independent from Iran. But, isolated and rejected by Saudi King Abdullah, Iraq ultimately had nowhere else to turn.Trade Review‘[A] gripping and thought-provoking book. It challenges ideas that still populate public discourse and certain academic and policy circles in a concise and accessible manner. […] A cautionary tale for policy-makers in their convoluted practice.’ -- The Middle East Journal‘Anyone interested in understanding the extent of autonomy and independence of political decision-making in these major Middle Eastern states will find this book extremely useful and illuminating’ -- Asian Affairs'An outstanding contribution to our understanding of Iraqi and Saudi foreign policy following the 2003 U.S. invasion. Harvey's extensive research, including interviews with senior figures on all sides, is exceptionally valuable. Her arguments are original and compelling.' -- Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East, Rice University'A rare, incisive analysis of the Saudi approach to Iraq's momentous post-invasion shift towards Iran. Illuminating the impact on regional rivalries, and their devastating effect inside Iraq, Harvey's book is of seminal value to policymakers grappling with Saudi-Iranian tensions and state-building in Iraq.' -- Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins University, and author of 'The Shia Revival''A major contribution to the literature regarding Saudi Arabia's relations with Iraq in the period following the 2003 U.S. invasion. Deploying multiple tools of social science, Harvey meticulously explores the mindset of Saudi King Abdullah toward Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.' -- Robert W. Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia'A timely, persuasive and original text that fills a much-needed gap--on Saudi-Iraqi relations, the role of Iraq in the Saudi-Iranian rivalry, and the Kingdom's involvement in Iraq's domestic politics since 2003. This promises to be an important book.' -- Simon Mabon, Professor of International Politics, Lancaster University, and author of 'Houses Built on Sand: Violence, Sectarianism and Revolution in the Middle East''Shows how King Abdullah's flawed perception of Prime Minister al-Maliki as an Iranian agent drove the kingdom's disengagement and weakened its foreign policy. Harvey's account of the missteps helps to explain Saudi difficulties today in navigating Iraq, highlighting the role of human error in international relations. Informative and insightful.' -- Renad Mansour, Director of the Iraq Initiative, Chatham House'An interesting, original and historically grounded study, throwing light on key actors in the Gulf's balance of power. This important book has clear relevance for understanding recent developments in these fraught relationships.' -- Charles Tripp, Professor Emeritus of Politics, SOAS University of London, and author of 'A History of Iraq'

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Book SynopsisThis book sheds light on Russia's motives in the Middle East, examining its growing role in the region and its efforts to defend its national interests. As one of the first volumes to address both domestic and external drivers, it provides a valuable multi-dimensional account of Moscow's foreign policy. 'Russian Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East' also traces the historical evolution of Russia's presence in the region, comparing Moscow's current vision of its diplomatic priorities with the strategic goals of the Soviet Union. Diverse case studies reveal areas of both divergence and convergence between Russia and various Middle Eastern players on a range of issues, including the Syrian Civil War, Iran's regional activities and the Yemeni conflict. In an era of renewed global tensions, this volume provides an important corrective to the notion that Russia's Cold War-era confrontation with 'the West' determines its contemporary approach to the Middle East. No less important are economic interests and domestic security considerations, which push Moscow towards greater interaction with the region. Only by examining both new trends and old traditions can we understand Russia's significance as a global player today.Trade Review'This engagingly written book focuses on the regional, international and domestic dimensions of Russia's policy. The research is in-depth and illuminates the drivers and outcomes of Moscow's strategies in the Middle East. Highly recommended for anyone studying international relations or the foreign policy positions of the Russian Federation.' -- Irina Zvyagelskaya, Head of Center for Middle East Studies, IMEMO, Russian Academy of Sciences'This rewarding collection of diverse essays reveals multiple drivers of Russia's enduring interests in the Middle East. Anyone who wishes to understand Russia's foreign policy, whether in the Middle East or beyond, should read this book.' -- Anna Borshchevskaya, Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute, and author of 'Putin's War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America's Absence''A masterful survey of Russia's relations with the Middle East. It will make a fine addition to the literature and a refreshing challenge to the Western-centric understanding that dominates scholarship on Russian foreign policy.' -- Clive Jones, Professor of Regional Security, Durham University, and co-author of 'Fraternal Enemies: Israel and the Gulf Monarchies''This is a very important project that investigates the history, development and the current state of Russia's foreign policy in the Middle East. A comprehensive and welcome contribution to the current literature.' -- Ofer Fridman, Senior Lecturer in War Studies, King's College London, and author of 'Russian "Hybrid Warfare"' and 'Strategiya'

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Book SynopsisSince the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the normalisation of relations between Iran and America has appeared unrealistic if not inconceivable, given that the Iranian state has vigorously pursued an anti-American ideology. This account of US-Iranian relations examines the efficacy of external pressure such as sanctions, as well as domestic grassroots reform movements within the Islamic Republic. The Obama presidency marked a rare high point in the Washington-Tehran relationship, as negotiations between the two countries and other powers produced an unprecedented nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. However, the Trump administration's unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA, and re-imposition of new sanctions in pursuit of 'maximum pressure', had devastating economic consequences, undermining the Iranian middle class, which has consistently been the voice of political moderation and supported Iran's integration into the global economy. Crucially, sanctions have also driven Iran further into the arms of China, while rendering it an even more recalcitrant and aggressive adversary. Monshipouri's central conviction is that negotiations are pivotal to dismantling the mistrust that has long characterised US-Iranian relations, and to seeking détente between Iran and its Arab neighbours--a critical priority, since gradual US withdrawal from the region is all but certain.Trade Review'Surveying the tumultuous relationship between Iran and the United States, "In the Shadow of Mistrust" offers a clear roadmap on how to resolve the existing tensions between the two countries. Timely, well researched and meticulous.' -- Nader Entessar, Professor in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, University of South Alabama, and co-author of 'Iran Nuclear Negotiations: Accord and Détente since the Geneva Agreement of 2013''Monshipouri takes the reader on a detailed, exceptionally well-argued and comprehensive tour of Iran's relations with the USA. An important contribution to the scholarship for those who want to take a deep-dive into this pressing geo-political conundrum.' -- Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, author of 'What is Iran?''Monshipouri's excellent new book takes the bold position that the US and Iran could and should end hostilities for their mutual benefit, as well as that of the greater world. Deeply researched and empirically rich, it tackles contentious issues and offers a way forward.' -- Arzoo Osanloo, Professor, Law, Societies & Justice, and Director, Middle East Center, University of Washington'Media coverage of US-Iran relations has been shrouded in bias, misinformation and misunderstanding. This volume is a much-needed corrective, providing a nuanced perspective on the complexities of this relationship. Monshipouri explores the factors animating mutual antagonism, while examining political blunders and missed opportunities for rapprochement. Essential reading.' -- Manochehr Dorraj, Professor of International Relations, Texas Christian University, and author of 'From Zarathustra to Khomeini: Populism and Dissent in Iran'

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Book SynopsisTo observers of the Iran-Israel conflict, its vitriolic rhetoric might suggest an ancient hatred between Jews and Muslims--a biblical feud dating back hundreds, or thousands, of years. But this rivalry is a far more modern development. In this authoritative study, Jonathan G. Leslie examines the origins of the conflict. Drawing on extensive archival and open-source research, he concludes that--despite the animosity surrounding the Iran-Israel relationship--the twenty-first century's hostilities are not inevitable consequences of these nations' history, nor of contemporary political events. The intensification of tensions has been largely the product of one nation's efforts, with Israel viewing Iran as a far greater danger than Iran does Israel. Using a novel theoretical approach considering the power of narrative within historical context, Leslie outlines how Israel's leaders successfully reimagined their erstwhile ally Iran as an existential threat. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took this further, employing populist strategies in an attempt to rewrite history, depict Iran as a global menace, and recruit allies against the JCPOA nuclear deal. Fear and Insecurity provides important new insights into the history of the Iran-Israel conflict, and offers fresh prospects for defusing the tensions threatening both global and regional security.Trade Review‘Leslie’s study underscores the essential irrationality of Israeli foreign policy as well as the towering influence of Netanyahu, who must now be accounted one of the most significant—and pernicious—figures in Israel’s political history.’ -- Washington Report on Middle East Affairs'A compelling analysis of the construction of the Israeli narrative on Iran.' -- International Affairs'Leslie convincingly demonstrates that words have consequences and that these can be profound... [his] focus on the power of discourse, which he skillfully dissects, is a most refreshing perspective.' -- Informed Comment'This is the authoritative account of Israeli-Iranian relations. Everyone remotely interested in this pivotal region needs to read this book and to recommend it further.' -- Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, author of What is Iran?'Fear and Insecurity offers a formidable thesis revolving around the enduring power of the Iran threat narrative, a perception that has long been manipulated by populist leaders in Israel. This is a timely addition and a great contribution to explain the lingering--albeit constructed--tensions in Israeli-Iranian relations.' -- Mahmood Monshipouri, author of In the Shadow of Mistrust: The Geopolitics and Diplomacy of US–Iran Relations'An original contribution to the scholarly literature on the topic, Leslie excellently explains how the art of enemy-making has succeeded in creating today's animosity in the Iran-Israel conflict.' -- Nader Entessar, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, University of South Alabama

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Book SynopsisIn 2020, mass anti-government protests erupted across Belarus. The brutal crackdown that followed shocked the international community: the authorities arrested tens of thousands of citizens, shut down independent media and NGOs, and fomented a migrant crisis on the European Union's border. But where many thought Belarus's dictator, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, would fall, he instead turned to Moscow for support, intensifying repression. Many of his opponents fled the country. Then, in February 2022, Belarus provided a staging area for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, allowing troops and missile systems to be based on its territory as large-scale war returned to Eastern Europe once again. Many outsiders now view Belarus as little more than a Russian military district, rather than a sovereign country. Paul Hansbury offers a wide-ranging account of these two related crises. Exploring the domestic origins of Belarus's political chaos and its international ramifications, he also assesses the effectiveness of western sanctions policy, as well as considering the history and prospects of Belarusian statehood. Does Belarus have a future as an independent polity? And how has Russia's war with Ukraine affected Belarusians' views of their dictatorship and the cause of democracy in their country?Trade Review'Remarkable' -- Roger Boyes, The Times‘Abounds in pointed and captivating reflections.’ -- Politique étrangère'A concise and yet wide-ranging study. ... [Hansbury] has a sharp eye for detail, capturing the pragmatic and slightly petty flavor of the regime’s repressions.' -- The Moscow Times'[A] deeply researched and valuable study of the history, culture and current politics of Belarus.' -- Times Literary Supplement'An accessible and insightful portrayal of this much-neglected country. Paul Hansbury weaves historical background and contemporary politics into a sympathetic tapestry, depicting a long-suffering people hijacked by a dictatorial regime and its Kremlin backers.' -- Edward Lucas, author, security specialist and 'Times' columnist'"Belarus in Crisis" is not just timely--both for the region at war and the world. It tells a personal story, invaluable to all, in an effort to understand today's Belarus--as a country with its own voice, re-shaped by the trauma of the 2020s. An invigorating read!' -- Elena Korosteleva, Professor of Politics and Global Sustainable Development, University of Warwick, and co-founder of the Oxford Belarus Observatory'A masterly account of Belarusian history, with short "interludes" dealing with themes of particular interest, culminating in 2022 with the further violent crackdowns on popular unrest and uncertainty after Putin's use of Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine. A good read.' -- Brian Bennett, author of 'The Last Dictatorship in Europe: Belarus Under Lukashenko''Paul Hansbury's understanding of Belarus is deep and nuanced. Analysing the causes of the 2020 protests in Belarus and explaining the evolution of Belarusian politics since independence, 'Belarus in Crisis' is a timely, engaging and fascinating read. A truly excellent book.' -- Ekaterina Pierson-Lyzhina, Associate Researcher, Centre d'Etude de la Vie Politique, Université Libre de Bruxelles

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Book SynopsisThe Middle East is experiencing the world's most prominent youth bulge. Yet many MENA economies' institutional designs, both formal and informal, favour the power of business elites, systematically discriminating against young people joining the workforce or opening businesses, and thus limiting their ability to contribute to innovation. Large youth populations can be a boon or a curse: nurtured and integrated, they can jumpstart stratospheric growth; but if alienated and confined, they can drain a society politically and economically. The Gulf Cooperation Council countries are no exception to this perilous dilemma. This book explores the problem through a new concept, 'creative insecurity': a state's subjection to an institutional ecosystem that is suppressing opportunities for innovation--to the extent that it is causing economic and political vulnerabilities, which in turn threaten national security. Creative insecurity threatens the longevity of many states today. In this original, incisive study, Dania Thafer argues that GCC member-states should make it a national security imperative to cash in their demographic dividend, by averting the deleterious effects of ill-disposed elite politics. Investing in an innovation ecosystem that harnesses the talent of the youth majority will be crucial for the GCC's successful transition to the post-oil era.Trade Review'An innovative, detailed and rich examination of the policy dilemmas that look set to define the next stage of evolution in the Gulf States.' -- Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East, Baker Institute'A thoughtful, original analysis of critical links between demography, institutional arrangements, innovation and national security. Making significant contributions to the study of the political economies of Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, this is essential reading.' -- Mehran Kamrava, Professor of Government, Georgetown University in Qatar'Thafer applies critical political economy to address challenges facing Gulf states—rising youth populations, continued reliance on hydrocarbon wealth, stymied private sector development. Her work is timely, innovative, and much-needed to consider how states can break the "oil curse."' -- Courtney Freer, Visiting Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Emory University'An original analysis of youth in the Gulf states, offering valuable insights on the nexus of creative insecurity, state–market relations, governance, institutions, innovation, development and demographic dividends. A thought-provoking, invaluable read.' -- Abdullah Baabood, Chair of the State of Qatar for Islamic Area Studies, Waseda University

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Book SynopsisThe founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, came to power in 1923 with a radical and wide-ranging programme of reforms, known collectively as Kemalism. This philosophy – which included adopting a western alphabet and securing a secular state apparatus - has since the early 1930s, when the Turkish state endeavored to impose a monolithic definition of the term, been connected to the development of the personality cult of Mustafa Kemal himself. This book argues that in fact Kemalism can only be fully understood from a transnational perspective: just as a uniquely national frame is not the only appropriate scale of analysis for shedding light on the process of the nationalization of societies and nationalism itself, the Turkish national lens is not necessarily the most adequate one for understanding the genesis and evolution of what Kemalism stood for from the early 1920s onward. Featuring case studies from across the former Ottoman Empire and using new primary source research, each chapter examines the different ways in which national borders refracted and transformed Kemalist ideology. Across the Balkans and the Middle East Kemalism influenced the development of language and the alphabet, the life of women, the law, and everyday dress. A particular focus on the interwar period in Turkey, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Albania, Yugoslavia, and Egypt reveals how, as a practical tool, Kemalism must be relocated as a global movement, whose influence is still felt today.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Transationalizing Kemalism: a Refractive Relationship, by Nathalie Clayer, Fabio Giomi, Emmanuel Szurek Chapter 1: Kemalism and the Adoption of the Civil Code in Albania (1926-1929), by Nathalie Clayer Chapter 2: Kemalism Between the Borders: Conflicts Over the New Turkish Alphabet in Bulgaria, by Anna M. Mirkova Chapter 3: From Ottoman to Latin Script in Cyprus. A Local, a British Colonial and a Turkish National History, by Béatrice Hendrich Chapter 4: Transnational History in a Hat: Egypt and Kemalism in the Interwar Years, by Wilson Chacko Jacob Chapter 5: Seduced by Gender Corporatism: Muslim Cultural Entrepreneurs and Kemalist Turkey in Interwar Yugoslavia, Fabio Giomi Chapter 6: Reframing the Orientalist Gaze in the Material Culture of Kemalist Turkey: The Formation of an “Aesthetic Nationalism”, by Ece Zerman Chapter 7: The Man Sick of Europe. A Transnational History of Kemalist Science, by Emmanuel Szurek

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Book SynopsisBritain's military involvement in Afghanistan is a contentious subject, yet it is often forgotten that the current conflict is in fact the fourth in a string of such wars dating back more than 170 years. Aiming to protect British India from the expanding Russian empire, the British fought a series of conflicts on Afghan territory between 1838 and 1919. The Anglo-Afghan wars of the 19th and early 20th centuries were ill-conceived and led to some of the worst military disasters ever sustained by British forces in this part of the world, with poor strategy in the First Afghan War resulting in the annihilation of 16,000 soldiers and civilians in a single week. In his new book, Jules Stewart explores the potential danger of replaying Britain's military catastrophes and considers what can be learnt from revisiting the story of these earlier Afghan wars.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Cradle of Political Insanity 2. Victoria’s First War 3. The Present Happy Moment 4. Vengeance is Mine, Sayeth Lord Ellenborough 5. The Pure Instinct of Dominion 6. Chronic Suspicion and Undignified Alarm 7. Nothing but Misfortune and Disaster 8. Once More into the Breech Bibliography

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Book SynopsisRupert Murdoch’s extraordinary career has no parallel. His control of Fox news, which so successfully supports the Trump presidency, is a key force in American politics. In the UK, his control of The Sun and The Times leaves politicians scrambling to get him onside. But what do we know about the man himself? This book looks closely at the Murdochs, focusing on Rupert's father Keith, who built the family’s media power and cultivated the anti-establishment instincts that his son Rupert is known for. Roberts traces the life of the Murdochs, how Rupert Murdoch’s view of the world was formed, and assesses it's impact on the media that influences our politics today.Trade ReviewTo unpeel the layers of ‘the man who owns the media’, it’s difficult to think of someone more qualified than Tom Roberts ... Here, Roberts again applies his forensic approach and scholarly rigour. * Spear's Magazine *The Making of Murdoch is the essential prequel to one of the great media and succession stories of our time. Tom Roberts' rigorous research shows how the life and times of Sir Keith Murdoch set his son Rupert on course to bestride print and television in three continents of the English speaking world from Adelaide to London to New York. How did a well-connected and Oxford-educated scion of the British Empire come to create the tabloid Sun newspaper and Fox News Channel? Roberts unearths the roots of the Murdoch story for good or bad. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the media today. * Adam Boulton, Editor-at-Large Sky News *'This outstanding book holds the key to understanding not just Rupert Murdoch, but also the brutal power of modern media.’ * Peter Oborne, journalist and broadcaster *[Includes] compelling material about Keith’s journalistic flaws. * British Journalism Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Moulding a myth 1. Rosehearty 2. American immigrant 3. Finding his voice 4. 'Murder, history, war' 5. Hearts and minds...and bodies 6. A romance into air 7. The Prince and the Pressman 8. Lessons from a madman's bible 9. Healthy competition 10. Kingmaker 11. Media empire 12. A girdle round about the Earth 13. By phone and clone 14. The son rises Epilogue: A new inheritance Index

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Book SynopsisAfter the French and Dutch electorates decisively rejected the EU Constitution at the polls in 2005, the Irish delivered a resounding 'Third No' in June 2008, triggering a political earthquake in the capitals of Europe. Forcing the Irish to vote again in 2009 having given the 'wrong' answer reveals divergent visions of Europe's future. In this defining moment Another Europe? comes as a timely stimulus to debate about the future of the EU. Just as The Federalist papers of 1788 lent the stage to Publius at an equally pivotal time in the history of the United States of America, so his sister 'Publia', with her friend 'Lydia', jointly address the peoples of Europe on the future of their Continent. Their inspired exchanges contain the ideas of over seventy distinguished thinkers and political actors across the European Union. They expose two logically consistent if irreconcilable routes towards a democratically legitimate Europe. Authoritative and highly readable, Another Europe? aims to bridge academic and popular discourse and open up all the key issues, from law to environment, identity, citizenship, finance and foreign policy. It is essential for anyone who wishes to engage in Ireland's – and Europe's – great debate.Table of ContentsPreface 3List of Acknowledgements 6Preamble 12Letter 1: European Identity 16Letter 2: Nationhood, Citizenship and Accountability 20Letter 3: The Single Market 26Letter 4: Finance and the Global Economy 33Letter 5: Defending Society and Protecting the Individual 39Letter 6: The Law 44Letter 7: Constitution 51Letter 8: Regulation 56Letter 9: Reversibility 62Letter 10: Foreign Policy 66Letter 11: Security and Defence 71Letter 12: Enlargement 76Letter 13: Demography and Immigration 80Letter 14: Protecting the Environment 84The Concluding Letter 89Finis 95

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Book SynopsisA war that has killed more than a million Iraqis was a "humanitarian intervention", the US army is a force for liberation, and the main threat to world peace is posed by Islam. These are the arguments of a host of liberal commentators, including such notable names as Christopher Hitchens, Kanan Makiya, Michael Ignatieff, Paul Berman, and Bernard-Henri Lévy. In this critical intervention, Richard Seymour unearths the history of liberal justifications for empire, showing how savage policies of conquest-including genocide and slavery-have been retailed as charitable missions. From the Cold War to the War on Terror, Seymour argues that colonialist notions of "civilization" and "progress" still shape liberal pro-war discourse, concealing the same bloody realities.In a new afterword, Seymour revisits the debates on liberal imperialism in the era of Obama and in the light of the Afghan and Iraqi debacles.Trade ReviewA powerful critique of 'humanitarian intervention' and of those liberal intellectuals who support it. * Independent *A great deal of damning material on the apologists of recent illegalities. -- Philippe Sands * Guardian *Among those who share responsibility for the carnage and chaos in the Gulf are the useful idiots who gave the war intellectual cover and attempted to lend it a liberal imprimatur. The more belligerent they sounded the more bankrupt they became; the more strident their voice the more craven their position. As the war they have supported degrades into a murderous mess, Richard Seymour expertly traces their descent from humanitarian intervention to blatant islamophobia. -- Gary YoungeAn excellent antidote to the propagandists of the crisis of our times. * Independent on Sunday *A powerful counterblast against the monstrous regiment of 'useful idiots.' * Times *Indispensable ... Seymour brilliantly uncovers the pre-history and modern reality of the so-called 'pro-war Left.' -- China Miéville[Seymour] delves into areas that are usually politely ignored, carefully uncovering liberalism and reformism's own shameful record of collaboration with mass murder ... essential reading. -- Owen Hatherley * New Statesman *We need to understand where these ideas comes from and how to fight them. This book is a major contribution to this understanding. -- Lindsey German * Socialist Review *The Liberal Defence of Murder is an important and scrupulously researched book with much to offer those who want to know why the likes of Christopher Hitchens have gone so loopy. * Morning Star *The most authoritative historical analysis of its kind ... [Seymour] displays a welcome critical engagement, meaningful intellectualism and unabashed factual analysis. * Resurgence *

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Book SynopsisThere is a saying in Arabic, me and my brother against my cousin, and me and my cousin against the outsider. Iran's Influence is the first comprehensive analysis of the role that Iran plays both in Middle Eastern and global politics. Expert Iranian author Elaheh Rostami Povey provides a much-needed account of one of the Middle East's most controversial and misunderstood countries. Based on several years of original research carried out in Iran and across the Middle East, this insightful guide presents not only a fascinating introduction to the country, but also essential new ideas to help the reader understand the Middle East.Trade Review'This is a sharp, judicious, caring, and competent scholar activist who has consistently crossed borders to carve new territories of perception and responsibility.' Hamid Dabashi, Columbia University 'As the crisis between Iran and the USA intensifies, Elaheh Rostami Povey's new book makes essential reading.' Stephanie Cronin, University of Oxford 'This work challenges much of the current discourse on the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Western media. It places evolving Iranian foreign and regional policies since 1979 in their proper historical and intellectual context. It combines new scholarship on the popular perception in the Arab street of Iran’s foreign policies with an engaging style and makes an important contribution to our knowledge on regional dimensions of the Palestine-Israel conflict.' Nur Masalha 'This book provides a clear-eyed, fascinating, and politically committed rebuttal to so much of the vacuous mainstream punditry about Iran's position and actions in the region.' Laleh Khalili, SOAS 'This book provides a clear and concise overview of the recent history of Iran in terms of religion, national and international politics and internal alliances, divisions and oppositional movements.' Baroness Afshar OBE, University of York 'A fascinating contribution to the debate. Rostami-Povey's extensive interviews in the region sheds valuable light on the continuing appeal of Iran on the Arab street, its causes, consequences and implications.' Ali M Ansari, St. Andrew's University 'A fascinating study of the evolution of the Islamic Republican regime in Iran, of its complex and increasingly conflictual relationship with popular and social movements, and of its impact on the wider Middle East. This fine product of Elaheh Rostami-Povey's critical scholarship is essential reading for anyone who refuses to settle for mythological and demonizing representations of post-revolutionary Iran.' Alex Callinicos, King's College LondonTable of Contents Introduction 1. The Legacy of a Revolution 2. The Reformers, The Conservatives and the Struggle for Democracy 3. The role of clergy in Iran 4. Religio-Political relationship between Iran, Lebanon and Hezbollah 5. Religio-political relationship between Iran and Iraq 6. Religio-political relationship between, Iran, Palestine and Hamas 7. Religio-political relationship between, Iran, and Egypt 8. Conclusion: The global context of the Iranian religio-political state Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe 2008 attacks on Mumbai were carried out by a Pakistani militant group known as Lashkar i-Taiba, termed a 'non-state actor' by Pakistan's president, Asif Zardari. In most cases, violent non-state actors (VNSAs) rise as a state fails, resorting to organized attacks as a brutally effective method for advancing their political aims and other goals. Currently operating in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somalia, and Sudan, VNSAs can take the form of national liberation movements confronting an occupying force; insurgents engaged in protracted political and military struggles that eat at the power and legitimacy of a ruling government; terrorists who use threats or violent acts to effect political change; irregular yet recognizable armed forces working within an ungoverned area or failing state; and mercenary militias, such as those used by Shell, or army-loaded units, such as those used in the Niger Delta. The essays in this volume map the relationship between VNSAs and the state, following the political, economic, and social processes that contribute to the emergence of these groups and how VNSAs in turn use these processes to trigger a crisis of the state. Contributors locate the point in which violence becomes desirable to the non-state actor and whether this alters the purpose of the relationship between VNSAs and the state, and they track the influence that the former can have in reshaping the governments they tear down. One of the first resources to describe these groups in full, this volume explains the internal structure of VNSAs, their recruitment strategies and leading ideologies, the characteristics and partnerships that allow them to adapt and prosper, and the fundamental similarities and differences between groups.Trade Review'High quality. The case study chapters are written by leading experts in the fields, and are consistently fascinating.' * Dr Jan Selby, Sussex University *

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Book Synopsis'We fail to understand Islam,' writes Roger Hardy in the introduction to this book, 'and we are paying a high price for our failure.' "The Muslim Revolt" explains, in layman's language, a phenomenon that still seems to madden and perplex both the public and the policy-makers. In setting out to demystify Islamism and the forces that drive it, Hardy suggests that for the last two hundred years Muslims have been in revolt against Western domination - and against the failures and disappointments of modernisation. The book takes the form of a journey. Drawing on his travels and encounters as a journalist over the last thirty years, the author explains the political role of Islam in particular countries and regions - Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, south-east Asia, Europe - while at the same time telling the story of Islamism from its origins in the era of European colonialism to the emergence of Al-Qaeda and the global jihadists of today. In a challenging conclusion, Hardy warns that without a subtler grasp of Islamism and its discontents, the West will lose its much-vaunted battle for Muslim 'hearts and minds'.Trade Review'Roger Hardy is a BBC Overseas Service journalist who has worked on the Islamic world for more than 30 years. This familiarity seems to have affected his judgement or sense of proportion scarcely at all. He ranges from Egypt to Indonesia and from the founders of Islam to its interpreters today. Everywhere he finds the right man or woman to interview, follows up with a crystal-clear summary of the relevant background and rounds off with a shrewd conclusion. The result is scholarly, but scholarship without obfuscation. The Muslim Revolt is a valuable handbook for anyone who seeks to understand the Islamic world.' * The Times *'Accessible and authoritative. It is hard to imagine a more reliable guide across the varied and complex terrains of political Islam.' * Professor Peter Mandaville, George Mason University, author of Global Political Islam *'A sensitive, well-informed and subtle reading of the Islamic revival.' -- * Bernard Haykel, Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University *'No journalist has studied the Islamic world more widely, for longer, or more thoughtfully than Roger Hardy. And no author has packed more wisdom into such a short, clear and readable book.' * Edward Mortimer, author, journalist and Fellow of All Souls, Oxford University *'The Muslim Revolt is the first book you should read if you want to discover and decipher the implications of political Islam. Roger Hardy's firm grasp of history and his long experience on the ground in the Middle East have given him the perspective essential to understanding what is happening today and is likely to happen tomorrow. His clear, concise writing makes it possible for the layman or, indeed, the expert to better comprehend, analyse and even empathise with these complex societies.' * Christopher Dickey Newsweek Paris Bureau Chief *'This admirably concise book by an experienced journalist takes us on a vivid and well-informed journey through various strands of political Islam in their different national and regional contexts - from Indonesia to Europe - and considers how less hostile relations between the West and Islam might be achieved. The Muslim Revolt successfully avoids the superficial and stereotypical renderings common in the mainstream media and makes effective and informative use of direct quotations by political Islamists - a rare and difficult feat.' * Dr John Chalcraft, London School of Economics *Table of Contentscontents: Dream of Revival * Martyrs for Hussein * Culture of Jihad * A Bridge to Africa * The Pious Ancestors * The Turkish Exception * Muslim Archipelago * The Bomb in the Turban * Hearts and Minds * Bibliography * Glossary

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Book SynopsisBeing the new kid on the block is seldom easy at any level, and it is certainly not easy in the anarchical world of international politics. New powers such as Brazil, China and India have to tread a difficult balance as they negotiate their way to the top. They must signal a sufficient level of conformity to show that they do not pose a threat to the system, and thereby avoid preemptive reprisals. But habitually conciliatory diplomacy is likely to lead established powers to regard them as pushovers. Effective bargaining holds the key to finding the balance between these extremes. Established powers also have no straightforward answers available to them. If the aims of the new power are limited, then engagement is a worthwhile enterprise. But if they are radically revisionist or revolutionary, then its disruptive potential to the system may necessitate containment from the established powers. Assessing the intentions of new powers and responding appropriately is crucial for the maintenance of international peace and stability. The key to such an assessment lies in an analysis of negotiation behaviour, which Narlikar examines in the case of the three most important candidates vying for great power status today - Brazil, China, and India. Together they present some fascinating commonalities in their diplomacy but also significant differences. The range of cases of new powers studied here also allows us some scope for generalization on how new entrants into great power clubs might behave, and what strategies the established powers can use most effectively to accommodate their rise.Trade Review'Tension and even warfare are likely when a new power emerges and an old power is challenged. The achievement of Amrita Narlikar is to bring analytical rigour to the recent emergence of India, China and Brazil, and her insights are equally applicable to the historical past, to the emergence of Britain or Germany or the United States, as to the present. She steers a deft course between the large-scale issues of the shifting balance of power and the details of negotiating style which were so important in mediating the interests of established and new powers.' * Martin Daunton, Professor of Economic History and Master of Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge *'Amrita Narlikar's impressive book goes beyond speculation about the intentions of New Powers to a detailed analysis about their international behaviour. New Powers shows in what policy arenas and to what degree global power is shifting.' * Andrew F. Cooper, Coeditor, Rising States, Rising Institutions: Challenges for Global Governance ' *'In her short but impressively rich and well written book Amrita Narlikar presents clearly argued analyses of the negotiation behaviour of three large countries aspiring to become great powers of the world. New Powers offers an important contribution to the understanding of a changing world together with well-founded advice for the negotiators of both new and established powers.' * Dr. Hilmar Rommetvedt, Head of Research at the International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Norway *

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Book SynopsisThe laws of war have always been concerned with issues of necessity and proportionality, but how are these principles applied in modern warfare? What are the pressures on practitioners where an increasing emphasis on legality is the norm? Where do such boundaries lie in the contexts, means and methods of contemporary war? What is wrong, or right, in the view of military-political practitioners, in how those concepts relate to today's means and methods of war? These are among the issues addressed by James Gow in his compelling analysis of war and war crimes, which draws upon research conducted over many years with defence professionals from all over the world. Today more than ever, military strategy has to embrace justice and law, with both being deemed essential prerequisites for achieving success on the battlefield. And in a context where legitimacy defines success in warfare, but is a fragile and contested concept, no group has a greater interest in responding to these pressures and changes positively than the military. It is they who have the greatest need and desire to foster legitimacy in war by getting the politics-law-strategy nexus right, as well as developing a clear understanding of the relationship between war and war crimes, and calibrating where war becomes a war crime.Trade Review'This book should be read by all, political and military, who seek to use armed force to achieve their ends. With great clarity James Gow shows the relation of law to war and how this relationship has changed along with the way war is practised. As importantly, he shows what could happen to those practioners who fail to foster this relationship: failure and possibly prosecution.' * General Sir Rupert Smith KCB DSO OBE QGM *'A clever and fundamental book. Law and legitimacy have always been important to war, but Gow's book brilliantly demonstrates how central the issue not simply of right, but of wrong have become to modern war.' * Professor Jan Willem Honig, Swedish National Defence College *'War and War Crimes traces the evolution of international humanitarian law and the laws of war, and discusses the practical problems arising for military practitioners. It should be compulsory reading for any student of conflict - whether in IR, law, or sociology - but also for any responsible military officer and, as importantly, for the politicians taking the decisions.' * Beatrice Heuser, Professor and Chair of International Relations, Reading University, and author of The Evolution of Strategy: Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present *'At the heart of this authoritative examination of the legitimacy of war and its conduct in the twenty-first century, James Gow refreshingly gives voice to the military judgment of professionals from around the world, as military officers themselves best understand the moral dilemmas they face and can best explain the context, at the strategic and tactical levels, which is so crucial to determining whether war crimes have been committed.' * Jeremy Jarvis CBE, Course Director, Royal College of Defence Studies, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom *

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Book SynopsisA plethora of economic, diplomatic, cultural, and other highly pragmatic linkages are making the AsianizationA" of Asia a reality. Davidson, demonstrates in this book how the powerful connections that are being forged by the very eastern and western extremities of the continent are poised to become a central pillar of this process. Most notably, an important new relationship is developing between the six monarchies of the Persian Gulf and the three most industrialized Asian economies. What began as a simple, twentieth century marriage of convenience based on hydrocarbon imports and exports has now evolved into a comprehensive, long-term mutual commitment that will not only continue to capitalize on the Persian Gulf's rich energy resources and Pacific Asia's massive energy needs, but will also seek to develop strong non-hydrocarbon bilateral trade, will facilitate sovereign wealth investments in both directions, and will provide lucrative opportunities for experienced Pacific Asian construction companies, and - in China's case - its vast labour force.Trade Review'This book provides a timely overview of the multifaceted dimensions of the rapidly-developing inter-relationships between the GCC states and South Korea, China and Japan.' * Kristian Ulrichsen, LSE *

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Book SynopsisSince that fateful week of war in June 1967, when Israel's speedy military victory over the Arab states redrew the map of the Middle East, Europe, at least in terms of its influence in this crucial region, has been a cause looking for an opportunity (to borrow Henry Kissinger's classic description of Russian foreign policy). Europe's ongoing attempt to assert itself as a key player in the Middle East conflict has come to nought and it has failed to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table. For the most part it has not even been able to arrive at a united and coherent view regarding how to act vis a vis this conflict. Even when it has overcome this obstacle it has rarely succeeded in turning this united position into effective action. Though successive generations of European leaders have shared Joschka Fischer's belief that 'solving the Middle East and developing a real vision of peace is the major, major challenge for Europe', nowhere has the contrast between rhetoric and action been more obvious than in its attempts to meet this challenge. Inglorious Disarray tells the story of Europe's evolving, albeit stilted and often frustrating, involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict over the last half century. It doing so it sets out how Europe's role has affected its relationship with Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Arab world, not to mention Europe's Muslim population, and how it has influenced Europe's political development in the decades since it became an economic powerhouse.Trade Review'Inglorious Disarray' is a fine work of scholarship that draws on a massive array of sources for what is a definitive account of the often strained relationships between the main players. * Sunday Business Post *'Inglorious Disarray' offers a meticulously researched account of Europe's constant engagement with Israel and the Palestinians since the Six-Day War of 1967. * 15 Minutes Magazine *'Inglorious Disarray' is not the first publication tracking the evolution of Europe's efforts to advance Middle East peace. However... it is certainly the most detailed and most valuable account so far, offering a wealth of insights to anyone working on the issue. -- Daniel Mockli, Office of the Foreign Minister, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, H-Diplo Roundtable ReviewsA serious, cold-eyed account of political Europe's ineffective role in the Middle East conflict. Miller's unsparing analysis will provide much food for thought both for policy makers and for those with a more general interest in the region. This book will add to Miller's reputation as an impressive scholar. -- Lord Bew of Donegore, Professor of Irish Politics, Queen's University Belfast, and author of 'Ireland: The Politics of Enmity 1789-20'a stimulating and genuinely original study that provides a new perspective on the ongoing Israel-Palestine question. Moreover, he gives insights into the workings of the EEC/EU, and the reasons for its failure to translate economic power into international influence . . . it will be essential reading for serious scholars of the Arab-Israeli dispute, as well as being of interest to the general reader. -- Simon C. Smith, University of Hull, H-Diplo Roundtable ReviewsI found 'Inglorious Disarray' extremely interesting... it certainly adds another dimension to the Israel-Palestine conflict and is comprehensive, well informed and backed up by factual evidence rather than supposition. -- Professor Colin Shindler, SOAS, author of 'The Triumph of Military Zionism: Nationalism and the Origins of the Israeli Right'This passionate and lucid account on the EU's role in the Middle East Peace Process should appeal to experts and the general public. Drawing from a variety of sources - Arab, Israeli, European and American - it narrates eloquently European Middle East policy in action and how this policy is perceived in the region. Rory Miller does an outstanding job in explaining how and why the EU plays 'second fiddle' to any US administration's intent to on making an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. -- Walter Posch, SWP Berlin

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