Other warfare and defence issues Books
RAND Infectious Diseases
Book Synopsis
£14.99
Oneworld Publications WHAT WE OWE THE FUTURE
Book SynopsisShould our priorities change when we consider all the lives yet to come?Trade Review'I was captivated by MacAskill’s rolling out of the possibilities of a longtermist approach to the now. It is vital to do as he does, to take ethics out of the safety of lecture-hall thought experiments, paradoxes and what-ifs and into the turbulent real world, where the dynamic winds of history blow and where is massing on the horizon that monstrous, swelling tsunami that we call the future. This is a book of great daring, clarity, insight and imagination. To be simultaneously so realistic and so optimistic, and always so damn readable… well that is a miracle for which he should be greatly applauded.' —Stephen Fry'MacAskill is probably one of the most influential thinkers in the world.' —The Times, Best Books of 2022‘A brilliant book that makes clear both how much is at stake when it comes to the long term, and the incredible opportunities we have to shape it. It has changed how I think about my time on earth.’ —Max Roser‘This book is a monumental event. William MacAskill is one of the most important philosophers alive today, and this is his magnum opus.’ —Rutger Bregman, author of Humankind'No living philosopher has had a greater impact upon my ethics than Will MacAskill. And much of the good I now do is the direct result of his influence. In What We Owe The Future, MacAskill has transformed my thinking once again, by patiently dismantling the lazy intuitions that rendered me morally blind to the interests of future generations. This is an altogether thrilling and necessary book.' —Sam Harris'MacAskill’s case for “longtermism” – “the idea that positively influencing the longterm future is a key moral priority of our time” – is overwhelmingly persuasive. But it’s also unapologetically optimistic and bracingly realistic: this is by some distance the most inspiring book on “ethical living” I’ve ever read… a powerful argument in favour of freedom of speech and viewpoint diversity… The overall promise of this thrilling book is of a life both less burdened by ethical guilt – by beating yourself up over every choice of groceries or transportation – and much more effective at actually helping humanity.' —Guardian'An optimistic look at the future that moved me to tears.' —Joseph Gordon-Levitt'A profoundly optimistic exploration of the opportunities our descendants might enjoy, and the steps we might take to help them… there are plenty of insights and surprises along the way… MacAskill has thrust an important and neglected argument into the spotlight, while making it vivid and fun to read. He hopes that this book will change the world, and it might.' —Financial Times'Remarkable… MacAskill’s command of factual detail is admirable. So are his lightness of prose and facility in explaining tricky arguments… Is our world better off for containing William MacAskill?... I say yes… MacAskill is a worthy heir to Derek Parfit’s philosophical legacy, adding deep factual research and accessible writing to a provocative line of thought.' —TLS
£15.29
Taylor & Francis Ltd Military Sexual Trauma Current Knowledge and Future Directions
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£49.39
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Swords and Cinema
Book SynopsisThe battles and sieges of the Classical world have been a rich source of inspiration to film makers since the beginning of cinema and the 60s and 70s saw the golden age of the swords and sandals epic, with films such as Spartacus. Ridley Scotts Gladiator led a modern revival that has continued with the release of films like 300, The Eagle and Centurion and HBOs mini-series Rome. While Hollywood interpretations of Classical battle continue to spark interest in ancient warfare, to casual viewers and serious enthusiasts alike they also spark a host of questions about authenticity. What does Hollywood get right and wrong about weapons, organization, tactics and the experience of combat? Did the Spartans really fight clad only in their underpants and did the Persians have mysterious, silver-masked assassins in their armies? This original book discusses the merits of battle scenes in selected movies and along the way gives the reader an interesting overview of ancient battle. It should appeal to the serious student of ancient warfare, movie buffs and everyone in between.
£21.44
Edinburgh University Press Disappearing War
Book SynopsisThe battles fought in the name of the war on terror have re-ignited questions about the changing nature of war, and the experience of war for those geographically distant from its real world consequences. What is missing from our highly mediated experience of war?
£999.99
Edinburgh University Press Reluctant Remilitarisation
Book SynopsisHow and why the three losers of the Second World War reconsidered their pacifism, embraced a more active military role and transformed their armed forces after the Cold WarTrade Review"Because they lost World War II, Germany, Italy and Japan spent much of the Cold War rejecting militarism and doing the minimum necessary to keep the United States happy and the Soviet threat at bay. In this compelling new book, Coticchia, Dian, and Moro demonstrate the essential role of critical junctures in the post-Cold War transformation of military doctrine and force structure in Germany, Italy, and Japan. In each case, the authors paint a careful picture of how international and domestic factors interact in complex and fascinating ways. This book is essential reading for those interested in the challenges facing military modernization efforts in these countries and beyond." -Jason W. Davidson, University of Mary Washington
£999.99
Manchester University Press Cosmopolitan Dystopia: International Intervention
Book SynopsisCosmopolitan Dystopia shows that rather than populists or authoritarian great powers it is cosmopolitan liberals who have done the most to subvert the liberal international order. Cosmopolitan Dystopia explains how liberal cosmopolitanism has led us to treat new humanitarian crises as unprecedented demands for military action, thereby trapping us in a loop of endless war. Attempts to normalize humanitarian emergency through the doctrine of the ‘responsibility to protect’ has made for a paternalist understanding of state power that undercuts the representative functions of state sovereignty. The legacy of liberal intervention is a cosmopolitan dystopia of permanent war, insurrection by cosmopolitan jihadis and a new authoritarian vision of sovereignty in which states are responsible for their peoples rather than responsible to them. This book will be of vital interest to scholars and students of international relations, IR theory and human rights.Trade Review'Written by one of the top analysts in the peacebuilding field, this highly readable book provides a wealth of fresh and powerful insights. Brimming with new and important framings, from the cosmopolitan dystopia of the title to the treatments of humanitarian anti-diplomacy and new forms of hierarchical sovereignty, this book is a must read for students and practitioners alike.’David Chandler, Professor of International Relations, University of Westminster‘This book presents a fundamental challenge to all those who have understood globalisation, humanitarian interventions, and the almost universal acceptance of the "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P) as progressive steps in the development of international relations. Philip Cunliffe has produced a powerful set of arguments to uncover the logic of contemporary liberal interventions. Far from being progressive, he argues, these interventions have ushered in a cosmopolitan dystopia, destroyed conventional state sovereignty, eroded traditional modes of politics, and undermined long-standing practices of diplomacy which sought to resolve competing state interests.’Mervyn Frost, Professor of International Relations, King’s College London'This elegantly written and wide-ranging critique suggests that the current strains in the liberal international order stem not from external forces, or so-called illiberal challengers, but rather from Western states' own attempts to undermine the foundational principle of non-intervention. Through his twin concepts of "inverted revisionism" and "the politics of exception", Cunliffe offers a rich account of how liberal ideals came to fuel episodes of Western hubris, which have in turn contributed to on-going conflict and instability. Provocative and essential reading.'Jennifer M. Welsh, Canada 150 Chair in Global Governance and Security, McGill University'Trading in big ideas and compellingly argued, Cosmopolitan Dystopia presents an incisive analysis of contemporary international relations and the fault lines that structure it. Viewed in its totality, what Cunliffe’s book offers us, in his own words, is a razor-sharp set of reflections on the stories we tell ourselves about the international order.'Ethics & International Affairs. -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: the rise of cosmopolitan dystopia1 Inverted revisionism and the subversion of the liberal international order2 Through the looking-glass: the new critics of intervention3 What should we do? The politics of humanitarian exceptionalism4 Failed states, failed empires and the new paternalismConclusion: waiting for the AmericansNotesBibliographyIndex
£76.50
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Supporting Tunnelling Operations in the Great War
Book SynopsisFew soldiers on the Western Front had heard of the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company, even after it had been renamed the 'Alphabet Company' by an AIF wag. Yet many knew the work of this tiny unit which numbered fewer than 300 at full strength. Despite its small size, the Alphabet Company's influence was enormous and spanned the entire British sector of the Western Front, from the North Sea to the Somme. This is the story of the 'Alphabeticals' who, led by Major Victor Morse, DSO, operated and maintained pumps, generators, ventilation fans, drilling equipment and other ingenious devices in extreme circumstances. Given the horrendous conditions in which the troops lived and fought, this equipment was desperately needed, as were the men who operated it in the same, often nightmarish setting. This is the first account of the dynamic little unit that was the Alphabet Company, a unit that has been neglected by history for a century. It is the story of the men, their machinery and the extraordinary grit they displayed in performing some of the most difficult tasks in a war noted for the horrific conditions in which it was waged. They do not deserve to be forgotten.
£21.62
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The British Partisan: Capture, Imprisonment and
Book SynopsisBelow are reviews of From Liguria With Love (original edition of A British Partisan) A gripping account of the many months spent behind enemy lines living with Italian people who daily risked their lives for him – one of whom eventually became his wife. A more exciting story than mine! - Eric Newby CBE MC – Author of Love and War in the Apennines I have always been a sucker for escape stories, so no need to tell you tell you that I greatly enjoyed it. - Sir Ludovic Kennedy This real gem, excellently written, fresh, vivid, attention holding, has added something substantial to the history of the period. - British Army Review This uplifting story has often sustained me in challenging situations in tough places. - General Sir Nicholas Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen Chief of the Defence Staff In this action-packed account, the author, a Welch Regiment officer, describes his remarkable Second World War experiences. These include his baptism by fire in the Western Desert against Rommel’s armour in 1942, the spontaneous help of nomad Arabs when on the run for ten days behind enemy lines, his capture and life as a POW in Italy. Ross and a fellow officer made the first escape from Fontanellato POW camp only to be recaptured on the Swiss border. During his second escape, Ross fought against the occupying German forces in north Italy alongside the Italian partisans, who nearly executed him initially. He avoided recapture for over a year before finally reaching Allied lines. The reader learns of the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of local Italians helping and hiding Allied soldiers. Ross’s story has a poignant conclusion as, while on the run, he fell in love with a prominent anti-fascist’s daughter whom he married after the war. Originally published as From Liguria With Love, this superbly written and updated memoir is a powerful and inspiring tribute to all those who risked their lives to help him and his comrades.Trade ReviewThis uplifting story has often sustained me in challenging situations in tough places. - General Sir Nicholas Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen Chief of the Defence Staff
£16.99
Turner Publishing Company Forged in Fire: A History and Tour Guide of the
Book SynopsisThe first volume in The Civil War Explorer Series to be set in the eastern theater of the Civil War, Forged in Fire describes the significant campaigns of 1861 and 1862 and provides an easy-to-follow tour guide of the battlefields today.
£22.49
Georgetown University Press Allies That Count: Junior Partners in Coalition
Book SynopsisWhat qualities make an ally useful in coalition warfare, and when is an ally more trouble than it’s worth? Allies That Count analyzes the utility of junior partners in coalition warfare and reaches surprising conclusions. In this volume, Olivier Schmitt presents detailed case-study analysis of several US allies in the Gulf War, the Kosovo campaign, the Iraq War, and the war in Afghanistan. He also includes a broader comparative analysis of 204 junior partners in various interventions since the end of the Cold War. This analysis bridges a gap in previous studies about coalition warfare, while also contributing to policy debates about a recurring defense dilemma. Previous works about coalition warfare have focused on explaining how coalitions are formed, but little attention has been given to the issue of their effectiveness. Simultaneously, policy debates, have framed the issue of junior partners in multinational military operations in terms of a trade-off between the legitimacy that is allegedly gained from a large number of coalition states vs. the decrease in military effectiveness associated with the inherent difficulties of coalition warfare. Schmitt determines which political and military variables are more likely to create utility, and he challenges the conventional wisdom about the supposed benefit of having as many states as possible in a coalition. Allies That Count will be of interest to students and scholars of security studies and international relations as well as military practitioners and policymakers.Trade ReviewA significant addition to the growing field of military cooperation in international politics. The chapter on Afghanistan—based on more than 100 interviews with NATO policymakers—is especially impressive. With a cogent argument and meticulously researched, Allies That Count represents an important contribution to the study of coalition warfare, as well as a useful building block for future studies of alliance military effectiveness. * Political Science Quarterly *Seeks to answer the questions that we had no theoretical or conceptual framework to answer when I was in the Pentagon: what qualities make allies useful in coalition warfare, and when are they more trouble than they are worth? * Joint Forces Quarterly *Exceptionally well structured and written; thus although it uses complex concepts, it is surprisingly easy to read. . . . Also a great example of how scholars can build bridges innovatively between different literature and research methods. * Defense & Security Analysis *Table of ContentsIllustrations Foreword by Jean-Baptiste Jeangene Vilmer Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1. The Gulf Conflict: Junior Partners in a Major War 2. The Kosovo Intervention: Coercion by Coalition 3. The Iraq War (2003-9): Utility in Defeat 4. Afghanistan (2001-14) : Evolving Utility Conlcusion Appendixes 1. Applying the csQCA2. Dataset for the csQCA Bibliography Index About the Author
£81.60
Georgetown University Press Allies That Count: Junior Partners in Coalition
Book SynopsisWhat qualities make an ally useful in coalition warfare, and when is an ally more trouble than it’s worth? Allies That Count analyzes the utility of junior partners in coalition warfare and reaches surprising conclusions. In this volume, Olivier Schmitt presents detailed case-study analysis of several US allies in the Gulf War, the Kosovo campaign, the Iraq War, and the war in Afghanistan. He also includes a broader comparative analysis of 204 junior partners in various interventions since the end of the Cold War. This analysis bridges a gap in previous studies about coalition warfare, while also contributing to policy debates about a recurring defense dilemma. Previous works about coalition warfare have focused on explaining how coalitions are formed, but little attention has been given to the issue of their effectiveness. Simultaneously, policy debates, have framed the issue of junior partners in multinational military operations in terms of a trade-off between the legitimacy that is allegedly gained from a large number of coalition states vs. the decrease in military effectiveness associated with the inherent difficulties of coalition warfare. Schmitt determines which political and military variables are more likely to create utility, and he challenges the conventional wisdom about the supposed benefit of having as many states as possible in a coalition. Allies That Count will be of interest to students and scholars of security studies and international relations as well as military practitioners and policymakers.Trade ReviewA significant addition to the growing field of military cooperation in international politics. The chapter on Afghanistan—based on more than 100 interviews with NATO policymakers—is especially impressive. With a cogent argument and meticulously researched, Allies That Count represents an important contribution to the study of coalition warfare, as well as a useful building block for future studies of alliance military effectiveness. * Political Science Quarterly *Seeks to answer the questions that we had no theoretical or conceptual framework to answer when I was in the Pentagon: what qualities make allies useful in coalition warfare, and when are they more trouble than they are worth? * Joint Forces Quarterly *Exceptionally well structured and written; thus although it uses complex concepts, it is surprisingly easy to read. . . . Also a great example of how scholars can build bridges innovatively between different literature and research methods. * Defense & Security Analysis *Table of ContentsIllustrations Foreword by Jean-Baptiste Jeangene Vilmer Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1. The Gulf Conflict: Junior Partners in a Major War 2. The Kosovo Intervention: Coercion by Coalition 3. The Iraq War (2003-9): Utility in Defeat 4. Afghanistan (2001-14) : Evolving Utility Conlcusion Appendixes 1. Applying the csQCA2. Dataset for the csQCA Bibliography Index About the Author
£28.80
Fonthill Media Ltd Youth at War: Young People and their Schools in
Book SynopsisThe Second World War was the cause of more civilian casualties, many of them young people, than of military. In Britain, young people were on the front line, facing the threat of enemy invasion and the fragmentation of daily life. Their education was disrupted as their schools were taken over by government, the military and ARP; as pupils were evacuated and staff conscripted; curriculum was diluted and part-time schooling instituted; and concerns over food and accommodation increased. Along with the physical dangers of bombing and the increased disease caused by deprivation and social dislocation, youngsters endured psychological and emotional pressure from anxieties over home and family. Young people worked in industry and agriculture; served in the Home Guard and ARP; carried out voluntary activities in health and welfare; and prepared for military service as cadets and in uniformed organisations. School buildings aided the war effort as military HQs, training centres, research centres for weapons development and, central to ARP, especially in the cities, were often at the forefront of the bombing. This book attempts an overview of the circumstances under which youngsters grew up between 1939 and 1945 on the Home Front, with particular emphasis on the 14-18 age group.Table of ContentsContents, Acknowledgements, Abbreviations, Introduction, Chapter 1: The Context of Schooling, Chapter 2: The re-purposing of school premises, Chapter 3: Youngsters in defence of the nation, Chapter 4: Schools under attack, Chapter 5: Young people serving the nation, Evacuation figures for British cities, Bibliography, Index
£23.75
Helion & Company Muddling Through: Muddling Through: the
Book Synopsis
£26.25
Helion & Company Muddling Through: The Organisation of British
Book Synopsis
£21.25
Brill Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Torture
Book SynopsisThis volume offers diverse insights on how the practice of torture has impacted society and how we view human nature. After the Second World War, it was hoped that torture had been permanently vanquished among modern liberal states, and was only practiced by brutal totalitarian regimes. However, events after 9/11 revealed that the re-emergence of torture is an ever-present threat, even among leading democracies. Drawing from their knowledge of the humanities and social sciences, the contributors offer their expertise on the deleterious effects of torture and reveal that its trauma is interwoven into the fabric of modern society, requiring constant diligence to be rooted out and kept at bay. Contributors are William Fitzhugh Brundage, Federico Ciavattone, Noora Virjamo, Toni Koivulahti, Diana Medlicott, Stuart Molloy, Lon Olson, Martin Previsic, David Senesh and Hedi Viterbo.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Notes on Contributors Introduction Lon Olson Part 1 Criminological, Legal and Psychological Perspectives 1 Death Row Inmates: Victims of Torture in the Land of the Free Diana Medlicott 2 Torture’s In/ Visibility Hedi Viterbo 3 Facing Evil: Can We Professionally Evaluate Torture? David Senesh Part 2 Philosophical and Theological Perspectives 4 The Ambiguity of Sovereignty: the Passion Narrative as a Paradox Toni Koivulahti 5 Barbarians at the Gate: Reasserting a Natural Law Definition of Torture Lon Olson 6 Beyond the State: Human and Animal Positions Outside the Law Noora Koivulahti Part 3 Historical and Literary Perspectives 7 Torture, Slavery, Civilisation and Human Rights in the United States 1820–1860 W. Fitzhugh Brundage 8 Torture and Anti-Partisan War: the Case of the Italian Social Republic 1943–1945 Federico Ciavattone 9 The Goli Otok Camp: Torture Justified by External Threats? Martin Previšić 10 ‘A Real Show of Horrors’: Reading Representations of Torture in A Clockwork Orange and American Psycho Stuart Molloy Index
£999.99
