Political ideologies and movements Books

Book SynopsisWritten by prominent economist, Raymond Parsons, together with Ali Parry, this book offers a balanced and absorbing analysis of what various institutions and individuals have (and have not) done to eradicate the legacy of apartheid and bring South Africa to where it is today.

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Book SynopsisPresents a perspective on political philosophy, arguing against the conventional political philosophy pieties and defending a specific political position, which is identified as libertarian anarchy. This book includes a history of the concept of anarchy, and an examination of the possibility of anarchic societies.Trade Review‘In Libertarian Anarchy Gerard Casey presents a modern, clear and compelling case for anarcho-capitalism. Any lover of human freedom should read this book that very probably will set the agenda of the philosophical and political discussions of the next decades.' -- Jesús Huerta de Soto, Professor of Political Economy at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain‘Gerard Casey has written a truly astonishing book, one that relentlessly dismantles some of the most deeply embedded presuppositions in political philosophy. From now on, this will be the first book I use to persuade someone who insists on the vast benefits the state provides. A lasting and vastly significant addition to the literature.' -- Thomas Woods, Senior Fellow at Ludwig von Mises Institute, USA and New York Times bestselling authorCasey does an admirable job of representing the philosophical case for libertarian anarchism. -- Alex Sager * Marx & Philosophy Review of Books *Table of Contents1. Death and Taxes: Liberty under attack; 2. Forms of anarchism: Liberty regained; 3. Law without Orders; 4. Why hasn't it been done before?; 5. Making the world safe from democracy; 6. Constitutions of no authority; Further Reading; Index.

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Book SynopsisAward-winning author and journalist Sophia Nelson explains what Americans need to do to unify our country and become a great nation again.

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Book SynopsisNew perspectives on ethnic relations, Islam and neoliberalism have emerged in Turkey since the rise of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2002. Placing the period within its historical and contemporary context, Tahir Abbas argues that what it is to be ethnically, religiously and culturally Turkish has been transformed.

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Book SynopsisFocusing on well-known and obscure literary texts from the 1880s to the 1970s, as well as the many manifestos and programmes setting out visions of the future, this book charts the dreams of freedom of five major traditions of anti-colonial and anti-apartheid resistance.

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Book SynopsisThis book shines a light on Raymond Aron and his work on war and peace, ideological critique, the philosophy of history, international relations and political economy. It discusses Aaron's political legacy and argues that a number of his critiques and theories can help us address many of the problems and conflicts of the 21st century.

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Book SynopsisIrish Drama and the Other Revolutions 'shows how Irish playwrights mediated between the sexual and the socialist revolutions, and traces their impact on left theatre in Europe and America from the 1890s to the 1960s.

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Book SynopsisCombining penetrating argument and broad-ranging scholarship, Carl Raschke shows what the term 'neoliberalism' really means, how it evolved and why it has been so misunderstood.

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Book SynopsisThis book introduces the history of the rise and spread of Salafism during the 20th century as a global Islamic reform movement. It also explains Salafi tools of methodological reasoning: traditionally used to justify highly conservative positions, they now appear equally effective in defending more liberal life choices.Trade Review"This is great update on Salafism that provides crucial new insights into the nature of Salafism and even of Islam in general to politics and the difficult choices of combining religious purity with political participation." -Roel Meijer, Associate Professor of Islam Studies, Radboud University

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Book SynopsisUn-American? President Donald J. Trump has been called many names, but how can this term apply to a candidate and president whose slogan is “make America great again?” How can such a term apply to the “America First” president? In this book, John J. Pitney Jr., one of America’s most incisive conservative commentators exposes a core irony of Trump’s presidency: that a man who is quick to question the patriotism of his critics is himself deeply unpatriotic. Pitney argues that real Americanism is about ideas and ideals: truth, equality, the rule of law, patriotic service, and the hope that America can serve as an example to the rest of the world. By words and actions, Trump has disparaged all of these things. Through an examination of his record, this book tells how Trump subverts genuine American greatness.

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Book SynopsisAn incisive account of the tumultuous relationship between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and of the origins of our wealthy yet highly unequal nationIn the history of American politics there are few stories as enigmatic as that of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison's bitterly personal falling out. Together they helped bring the Constitution into being, yet soon after the new republic was born they broke over the meaning of its founding document. Hamilton emphasized economic growth, Madison the importance of republican principles.Jay Cost is the first to argue that both men were right--and that their quarrel reveals a fundamental paradox at the heart of the American experiment. He shows that each man in his own way came to accept corruption as a necessary cost of growth. The Price of Greatness reveals the trade-off that made the United States the richest nation in human history, and that continues to fracture our politics to this day.

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Book SynopsisBrian Morris reaffirms, with an attitude of critical sympathy, the contemporary relevance of Kropotkin as a political and moral philosopher and as a pioneering social ecologist.

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Book SynopsisThe essays in this collection reflect on the experience of the crisis in Greece and its political implications for the whole world.

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A gripping analysis of pre- and post-Brexit Britain

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Book SynopsisVladimir Ilyich Lenin visited London on six occasions at the beginning of the twentieth century and it was in this city, where Marx wrote Das Kapital, that the roots of Lenin's political thought took shape. This book, from a former curator of the Russian collections at the British Library, tells the story for the first time of Lenin's intriguing relationship with the enigmatic Apollinariya Yakubova – a revolutionary known to her comrades as the 'primeval force of the Black Earth'. The book reveals Lenin's London-based accomplices and political rivals, and sheds new light on his world-view – one which would have such a crucial impact on the twentieth century. This is the first full exploration of the formation of one of the leading political visionaries of his age. Henderson has made a series of stunning archival discoveries, published here for the first time, as well as photographs and details of the Russian revolutionaries (and indeed international police spies) who congregated in the east end of London - known then as the 'Little Russian Island'. Featuring an extraordinary amount of new archival material, this is an essential addition to our knowledge of Lenin the man and of the roots of the Russian revolution.Trade ReviewHenderson has woven his narrative out of a brilliant miscellany of archival sources, with crucial finds in the Hoover Institution's records of the Okhrana, or political police. * Times Literary Supplement *Henderson, a former Russian curator at the British Library, knows everything there is to know about Lenin’s love affair with the BM, and tells it all. This is a level of detailed Leniniana seldom encountered since the demise of the Soviet Union, but even those diligent Soviet researchers who used to track Lenin’s every move and hour didn’t know the BM [British Museum] as Henderson does. It’s what gives his book its charm. * London Review of Books *One hundred fifty years after Lenin’s birth, Henderson’s book does something to bring him back to life. * The Jacobin *Henderson’s revelatory book captures the atmosphere of a time of Jewish idealism preceding that of the horrors of the Gulag. * The Jewish Chronicle *Robert Henderson’s archival snapshots put human flesh on the intellectual and political bones of a figure who remains either revered or hated to this day… [the book] captures the atmosphere of Edwardian London and brings to life many of the players – with its wealth of photographs – in the early moves of a game that would indeed change the world. * Morning Star *Henderson’s book is a very welcome contribution to understanding the role that time spent in London played in the intellectual and practical development of the Russian revolutionary left, especially that of Lenin and his closest comrades. It provides a vivid sense of place and a lot of the human context to a crucially important period in Lenin’s political life. * Counterfire *[A] fascinating and meticulously researched book. As a former curator of the Russian collections at the British Library, Henderson is very well placed to undertake such research. * East-West Review *Henderson’s book should be of interest to Labour historians of the early 20th century. It reveals many of Lenin’s London based political networks and the roots of the politics that continue to influence the party’s left-wing. * Tides of History blog *Henderson has succeeded once again in writing another important and captivating history…Henderson’s book makes an original contribution to our knowledge of Lenin by providing us with a clearer understanding of his activities, the associates with whom he connected and, generally speaking, the milieux in which he moved during his London years. Today this research is invaluable to anyone with an interest in trying to comprehend how Lenin and political émigrés generally perceived their work in exile to make essential contributions to the promotion of revolutionary change in their countries of origin. * European History Quarterly *Based on thorough archival research in Britain, France, Russia, and the USA, the story recreated by the author is presented in an elegant and engaging narrative style, combining meticulous factual accounts with humor, vivid details, and emotional attachment to historical figures. Although the title quite accurately points at the main focus of the book – Lenin’s political activities during the periods when he stayed in London – I would add that Henderson’s narrative can also be described as a chronicle of love and politics that evolved around libraries in the turn of the century London, full of police, radicals, and spies. In this work, Henderson offers up a piece of fascinating historical research, weaving stories of various libraries and their collections into the fabric of his narrative. * Slavic & East European Information Resources *Henderson’s book concentrates on new archival finds and previously unpublished materials. Much of what he uncovers is fascinating and valuable information. * Look Left *[Henderson] makes excellent use of a wide variety of archival sources. * Socialist History *Flawlessly researched, lucidly written, replete with exhaustive archival evidence, including previously undiscovered photographs, Henderson has produced the definitive study of the numerous occasions that Lenin, the world's best known revolutionary, spent in London refining and developing his influential views. * John Gonzalez, author of An Intellectual Biography of N.A. Rozhkov: Life in a Bell Jar (2016) *In this outstanding work Robert Henderson deploys new archival discoveries and a lifetime’s research into the Russian émigré community of the early twentieth century to throw new light upon both the revolutionary and the personal life of one of the towering figures of modern history. One could ask for no more expert or convivial guide to Lenin’s various sojourns on London’s “Little Russian Island” during the birth of Bolshevism. * Dr Jonathan Smele, Queen Mary University of London, UK *Henderson’s book is the product of thirty years of research. Time well spent. Pending future openings of Soviet archives or chance discoveries of unpublished diaries of memoirs, this gripping narrative bids fair to remain the definitive version, in Roman poet Horace’s words, ‘a monument more lasting than bronze’. * The Spokesman *Robert Henderson takes us into the cheap lodgings, much-frequented libraries, packed meeting halls, favourite bars and restaurants which were the backdrops to the intense lives of the Russian revolutionary emigration in London. We become witnesses to their ferocious arguments and observers of their lives, loves and hopes for a better future for their homeland. * Professor Christopher Read, University of Warwick, UK *In this fascinating study, Robert Henderson takes us on a trail through the archives to reconstruct Lenin's life in London: the places he lived, the circles he moved in, and the relationships he built. * Professor Charlotte Alston, Northumbria University, UK *Table of ContentsContents Note on Transliteration and Calendars Acknowledgements Frontispiece Introduction Chapter 1 The Little Russian Island: The First Castaways Chapter 2 'Lirochka' and Lenin – The Spark That Lit the Flame? Chapter 3 1902–1903: Iskra and Shaping the Party Chapter 4 1905: A Congress of Conspirators Chapter 5 The London Congress of 1907 and the Triumph of Bolshevism Chapter 6 Two Last Visits: 1908 and 1911 Postscript Apollinariya's Story Appendix Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe BBC is one of the most important institutions in Britain; it is also one of the most misunderstood. Despite its claim to be independent and impartial, and the constant accusations of a liberal bias, from its Reithian origins to its coverage of the 2019 General Election: the BBC has always sided with the elite. As Tom Mills demonstrates, we are only getting the news that the Establishment wants aired in public. And yet in the current age of multi-platform news, this bias is increasingly exposed. Mills asks if the institution is fit for purpose? And can it even be reformed? The BBC is an important and timely examination of a crucial public institution that may threaten the very thing it was meant to uphold: democracy.Trade Review"Impressive ... a direct challenge to the notion of the BBC as a pillar of liberalism and social democracy * Times Higher Education *A brilliant corrective to mainstream histories of the BBC and a valuable reminder of the need to build a democratic media that is free from vested interests -- Des Freedman, Professor of Media and Communications, GoldsmithsRequired reading for those who want to understand Britain, and an invaluable resource for those who want to change it for the better. -- Daniel Hind, author of The Return of the Public: Democracy, Power and the Case for Media ReformAn excellent critique of the history of the BBC . . an important and readable book. -- David Boyle, author of The Death of Liberal Britain

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Book SynopsisIntelligent, nuanced and wide-ranging, this is the essential handbook for understanding the chaotic political times in which we live.In recent years, voters have deserted the political centre like never before. Whether it's Trump, Brexit, Le Pen, or Corbyn, outsiders and populists are flourishing on the far left and far right. Celebrated political commentator Steve Richards explores factors from globalization and fake news to rising immigration and stagnant wages. Richards argues that the reasons for the success of the outsider also sows the seeds of their eventual demise. If they do gain power, they inevitably become insiders themselves - and fail to live up to their extravagant promises.This landmark book examines the rapidly shifting global political landscape of the last decade, and is essential reading for anyone who has been bothered by Brexit, troubled by Trump or confused by Corbyn.Trade ReviewThere is no more insightful observer of the British scene than this reasoned pundit... [Richards] brilliantly nails it. * Observer *Richards offers valuable insights into how awkward political power really is. * Guardian *Excellent... An important and insightful account of the current rise of populism amid the collapse of trust in both conventional politics and politicians. * Jon Snow – Newsreader, Channel Four News *Steve Richards is quite simply one of the best in the business. * John Kampfner *Easily one of our best commentators. * David Aaronovitch *Steve Richards is a fine columnist and thoughtful political commentator. This book gets to the heart of why conventional politicians and parties are struggling and failing to adapt to the challenge of the outsiders, opening the door to Trump, the Brexiteers and European movements of far left and right. * Vince Cable – former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills *Insightful and well researched... The Rise of the Outsiders is both a stinging rebuke to established parties of left and right, but also a clarion call to mainstream politicians to call-out empty populism and make anew the case for sane government. * Ed Balls -- former Shadow Chancellor to the Exchequer *Incisive and urgent... This needs to be read by anyone trying to understand the nature of the current political system in Western democracies. * Alasdair Blair – Jean Monnet Professor of International Relations, De Montfort University, Leicester *An important book about the social forces behind the disruptive challenges to mainstream politics and the future of representative political parties. * Baron David Willetts – Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation *Fascinating... an unusual book by one of our best political commentators * Tribune magazine *rigorous examination . . . accessible and informative * The Tablet *

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Book SynopsisNostalgia has become a major force in global politics. While Donald Trump hopes to ‘make America great again’, Xi Jinping calls for a ‘great rejuvenation of the Chinese people’, and a majority of Russians still mourn the Soviet Union. But it is Brexit, with its idealisation of a bygone era of full sovereignty, that epitomises nostalgic nationalism in its purest form. Despite its romantic flavour, nostalgia is a malaise—a combination of paranoia and melancholy that idealises the past, while denigrating the present. This epidemic of mythicising national history is shaping politics in risky ways, fuelled by ageing populations, shifts in the global order, and technological disruption. When deployed in the political debate, collective nostalgia is used as an emotional weapon, capable of mobilising a nation towards illusory goals. Drawing on psychology, political science, history and popular culture, Anglo Nostalgia analyses the rapid spread of this global phenomenon, before focusing on Brexit as a case study. With the detachment of informed outsiders, Campanella and Dassù expose nostalgia’s great danger: the oversimplification of reality, leading to unprecedented political miscalculations and rising geopolitical tensions.Trade Review'[Trump's] mindset is well described in 'Anglo Nostalgia' by Edoardo Campanella and Marta Dassù. Start with an idealised view of the past, stir in the paranoia beloved of populists everywhere and, hey presto, you have the nostalgic nationalism that is his foreign policy.' * Financial Times *'concise and thought-provoking' -- CHOICE‘['Anglo Nostalgia'] is not only a fascinating book, but also a pioneering one.’ -- International Affairs'We troublesome Anglo-Saxons should be grateful that two Italian scholars have made such a penetrating, stimulating critique of the nostalgia underlying Brexit, and its wider context in a fractured West.' -- Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies, Oxford University'Nostalgic nationalism is a powerful concept for understanding current political trends around the world. This important book reveals its significance in today's world. Whether you want to understand Britain or China, the United States or Russia, Turkey or India, Campanella and Dassu's ideas have great force.' -- Lawrence H. Summers, President Emeritus and Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University'Of the many important facts of modern life that standard economic models have struggled to capture, the rise of nostalgic nationalism might just turn out be the most important. Campanella and Dassu could not have chosen a better time to start filling in the gaps.' -- Stephanie Flanders, Senior Executive Editor for Economics, Bloomberg News'The past is the new future. In this thoughtful, original and elegantly argued book, two leading European intellectuals have used the case of the United Kingdom to show that modernity's obsession with the future is dead: nostalgic nationalism is the power that shapes global politics today.' -- Ivan Krastev, Chairman, Centre for Liberal Strategies, and author of 'Democracy Disrupted''This fascinating and convincing book shows how a new flavour of nationalism--nostalgia for a simpler world--has led to the current global dysfunction, from Trump to Brexit. An essentially important guide that everyone should read.' -- Walter Isaacson, Professor of History, Tulane University, and author of 'Leonardo da Vinci' and 'Steve Jobs'

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Book SynopsisThe storming of the US Capitol building in January 2021 focused attention on the multiple threats facing contemporary liberal democracies. Beyond the immediate problem of Covid-19, the past two decades saw political polarization, a dramatic rise in inequality, global warming and other environmental threats, as well as the growth of dangerous cultural and political divisions. Western liberal democracies find themselves in the midst of what political theorists call a legitimation crisis: major portions of the population lack confidence in the ability of governments to address our most pressing problems. This distrust in government and traditional political parties opened the door to populist leaders and a rising tide of authoritarianism.Liberal democracies face major structural and normative challenges in the near future that require us to look beyond the traditional set of solutions available. Democracy in Crisis points back to the world''s first democratic government, Ancient Athens, to see what made that political arrangement durable and resistant to both internal and external threats. The argument focuses on several distinctive Athenian institutions and practices, and considers how we might reimagine them in the modern world. The book addresses questions of civic ideology and institutions, with extended treatment of two distinctive Athenian institutions, ostracism and sortition.

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Book SynopsisFrom regicides to revolutionaries; from fascists to anarchists; from Tom Paine to Tom Wintringham, this book is a history of noble ideals and crushing failures in which Clive Bloom takes us on a journey through British history, exploring our often rocky relationship with the ruling elite. A History of Britian's Fight for a Republic reveals our surprising legacy of terrorism and revolution, reminding us that Britain has witnessed centuries of revolt. This is a history encompassing three bloody civil wars in Ireland, the bombing campaigns by the IRA, two Welsh uprisings, one Lowland Scottish civil war, uprisings in Derbyshire and Kent, five attempts to assassinate the entire cabinet and seize London, and numerous attempts to murder the royal family.This new and revised edition takes the story of modern monarchy back to its origins in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and forward to the reign of Charles III and includes the story of the continuing struggle for democratic rights and republican values from medieval times up to the present struggle for Scottish and Welsh independence.

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Book SynopsisThis special issue of Aphasiology brings together papers from six countries in three continents on the ways in which computers are being used in the domain. Information technology is now well established as a means of delivering treatment to people with aphasia and this issue includes papers which describe the latest ways in which this is being carried out. Doesborgh et. al. report on Multicue, a way in which the capabilities of computers are used to support cueing approaches to the treatment of naming difficulties; and Mortley et. al. use the internet as a means of delivering innovative treatment approaches to the client at home. It is important that the high tech glamour of the technology does not obscure the need to critically evaluate the contribution of this mode of treatment. Two papers, Wallesch & Johanssen-Horbach, and Wertz & Katz, review and critique the outcomes and effectiveness of computer mediated therapy.In the 21st century computers are increasingly a part of everyday life and two papers address ways in which people with aphasia may benefit from this and engage in the emerging "information society", Van de Sandt-Koenderman looks at ways in which the technology can be used to support communication in day to day life by the provision of appropriate communication aids. Egan et. al. report on training people with aphasia to access the internet on their own account so that they may fully engage with this resource as active citizens.Trade Review'The publication seems timely given a increase in the number of aphasic individuals seen in clinic who already have considerable experience in the use of computers in their professional and/or private lives. It provides a very interesting read for those who are considering the use of computers in the delivery of therapy to their clients with aphasia.' William van Steenbrugge, Flinders University, Australia. In Aphasiology 20, 2006.Table of ContentsB.Petheram, Editorial.S., M. van de Sandt, D. Frans van Harskamp, P. Koudstaal, E. Visch-Brink, Cues on Request: The Efficacy of Multicue, a Computer Program for Word Finding Therapy.J. Mortley, J. Wade, P. Enderby, Superhighway to Promoting a Client-therapist Partnership? Using the Internet to Deliver Word-retrieval Computer Therapy, Monitored Remotely with Minimal Speech and Language Therapy Input.C.W. Wallesch, H. Johannsen-Horbach, Computers in Aphasia Therapy - Effects and Side-effects.R.T. Wertz, R. Katz, Outcomes of Computer-Provided Treatment for Aphasia.M. van de Sandt, High- tech AAC and Aphasia: Widening Horizons?J. Egan, L. Worrall, D. Oxenham, Accessible Internet Training Package Helps People with Aphasia Cross the Digital Divide.

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Book Synopsis'There is no alternative to free market liberalism and managerialism', is the orthodoxy of the twenty-first century. All too often, ordinary people across the world are being told that the problem of organization is already solved, or that it is being solved somewhere else, or that it need not concern them because they have no choices. This dictionary provides those who disagree with the evidence. Using hundreds of entries and cross-references, it proves that there are many alternatives to the way that we currently organize ourselves. These alternatives could be expressed as fictional utopias, they could be excavated from the past, or they could be described in terms of the contemporary politics of anti-corporate protest, environmentalism, feminism and localism. Part reference work, part source book, and part polemic, this dictionary provides a rich understanding of the ways in which fiction, history and today's politics provide different ways of thinking about how we can and should organize for the coming century.Trade Review'Great fun...Here's your toolbox for hammering out a new vision.' Amory Starr, author of Naming the Enemy and Global Revolt 'The Dictionary of Alternatives reveals a splendidly rich and dazzling array of other possibilities, other dreams, other truths and other worlds. At a time when so much intellectual discourse is slavishly conformist, this book dares to be different.' Christopher Grey, University of CambridgeTable of ContentsIntroduction A-Z of Utopian Thought - Over 300 detailed entries, from the familiar to the esoteric. For example: Fictional Utopias The Republic Gulliver's Travels News from Nowhere Island Social Experiments America Bourneville Cuba The Paris Commune Porto Alegre Soviet Union Wikipedia Social Movements The Black Panthers Communism Deep Ecology Fair Trade Levellers New Model Army Romanticism Situtationist Via Campesina The World Social Forum Zapatistas Thinkers Bakunin Castro Marx Gandhi Guevara Illich Nozick Friere Rawls Further Reading

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Book SynopsisLiberal education is not a theory. It is the tradition by which Western civilisation has preserved and enriched its inheritance for two and a half thousand years. Yet liberal education is a term that has fallen from use in Britain, its traditional meaning now freely confused with its opposite. This book is intended to correct that misapprehension, through the presentation of original source material from the high points in the liberal education tradition with particular focus on the British experience. Section 1: Origins (c. 450 BC to c. 450 AD) Section 2: The British Tradition (c. 750 to 1950) Section 3: After Tradition (1950 onward) Section 4: Liberal Education Redux (America).

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Book SynopsisThe working hypothesis of this book is that the issue of leadership is neglected by mainstream democratic and liberal theories. This deficiency has especially become evident in the last three or four decades, which have witnessed a revival of deontological liberalism and radical theories of participatory and ''deliberative'' democracy. The contributors examine, discuss and evaluate descriptive, analytical and normative arguments regarding the role of leadership in liberal and democratic theory. The volume seeks to provoke debate and to foster new research on the significance and function of leaders in liberal democracies. The book (as a whole and in its constitutive chapters) works on two levels. First, it aims to expose the lack of systematic treatment of leadership in mainstream liberal and democratic theory. Second, it explores the reasons for this neglect. Overall, the book tries to convince the reader that liberal and democratic theories should revive the issue of leadership.

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Book SynopsisWestern democracies are experiencing a new wave of right-wing populism that seeks to mobilise religion for its own ends. With chapters on the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland and Israel, Saving the People asks how populist movements have used religion for their own ends and how Church leaders react to them. The authors contend that religion is more about belonging than belief for populists, with religious identities and traditions being deployed to define who can and cannot be part of 'the people'. This in turn helps many populists to claim that native Christian communities are being threatened by a creeping and highly aggressive process of Islamisation, with Muslims becoming a key, if not the, 'enemy of the people'. While Church elites generally condemn this instrumental use of religions, populists take little heed, presenting themselves as the true saviours of the people. The policy implications of this phenomenon are significant, which makes this book all the more timely and relevant to current debate.Trade Review'Compelling and hugely ambitious, this book should be read by everyone'.'Vox Populi, Vox Dei? In the increasingly saturated market of populism books, Saving the People addresses one of the few important black spots: the relationship between religion and populism. A must-read for anyone interested in politics in contemporary western democracies.' * Cas Mudde, School of Public and International Affairs at University of Georgia and Center for Research on Extremism at University of Oslo *'This book explores the relationship of right-wing populism with religion. It shows how these parties have "hijacked" religion, using it not as a set of belief but as an identity marker, to strengthen the border between 'us' and 'them'. And in eight of the ten cases studied, Islam is the target. A major and challenging contribution to the understanding of Western populism.' * Nonna Mayer, Research Director at CNRS, Centre d'etudes europeennes de Sciences Po *

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Book SynopsisThe military victories of ISIS have overturned the geopolitical map of the Middle East. Media attention has focused on ISIS' savage treatment of its enemies and its ability to attract foreign fighters. However, in order to explain its success, a dispassionate account of its innovations in insurgency, ideology and governance is needed. The first effort to build an 'Islamic state' in Iraq was defeated by US and Iraqi forces in 2011. That the second attempt, dating from 2014, has been more successful calls for explanation. Hashim argues that by focusing their ideology first and foremost on extreme anti-Shia sectarianism -- rather than on Western 'infidels' -- ISIS' founders were able to present themselves as the saviours of what they saw as the embattled Sunni 'nation' in Iraq. This enabled them to win the support of Sunni communities. Moreover, ISIS' stunning ability to take major cities is a result of its innovative tactics. It sows terror in advance of its attacks by using targeted assassinations to kill key city leaders, and its decentralised regional command structure facilitates an unusual degree of coordination between small assault units. Meanwhile, it is making a serious effort to engage in state-building and population control.Trade Review'Pulling together speeches, other documents, and first-hand journalistic accounts, Hashim describes in detail the genesis of the group in Iraq ... assembl[ing] interesting statistics on how they governed.' -- The New York Review of Books'This a powerful account of the unique circumstances that bred and nurtured ISIS. Using primary sources and deep personal experience, Ahmed S. Hashim has brilliantly explained the ideology, organisation, war-fighting, and state-building enterprises of ISIS. I believe his book will become the definitive source on the ISIS group’s creation, evolution, and the Iraqi experience and personalities that differentiate it from other jihadist groups.' -- Michael W. S. Ryan, Senior Fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, and author of 'Decoding Al-Qaeda’s Strategy: The Deep Battle against America''Ahmed Hashim continues to produce timely and profound insights on the landscapes of global terror. The Caliphate at War is essential reading on the genesis, structure and operations of ISIS, the most violent and destructive of all the contemporary jihadist movements.' -- Ali Allawi, author, 'The Occupation of Iraq' and Minister of Trade, Defence and Finance, Iraq, 2003-2006'Ahmed Hashim has written a detailed and coherent account of the origins of the Islamic State and the reasons for its rise and fall. This is an excellent book for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the divisions in Iraqi society and why they will continue to foster such movements, even following the demise of the Caliphate.' -- Richard Barrett CMG OBE, former Director of Global Counter Terrorism Operations for the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS)'Pulling together speeches, other documents, and firsthand journalistic accounts, Hashim describes in detail the genesis of IS in Iraq, including the rift between the upstart caliphate and al-Qaeda, the first global jihadist movement.' -- New York Review of Books

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Book SynopsisThe overwhelming challenge that South Africa faces, and has to date failed to address, is unemployment, which falls especially on African youths who were promised a better future after 1994. If the current unemployment challenge is not addressed, it will be impossible to sustainably lift many millions of people out of poverty. How South Africa Works reviews the country's major economic achievements over the past two decades. Through numerous interviews with politicians, business leaders and analysts, it examines the challenges and opportunities across key productive sectors -- including agriculture, manufacturing, services, and mining -- illustrative of the policy challenges that leaders face. It scrutinises the social grant and education systems to understand if South Africa has established mechanisms for people not only to escape destitution but be ready to be employed, and identifies steps that some of South Africa's most notable entrepreneurs have taken to build world-class enterprises. Recognising the essential challenge to cultivate more employers to employ people, How South Africa Works concludes by offering an agenda and active steps for greater competitiveness for government, business and labour.Trade ReviewWhatever our ideological departure points, 'How South Africa Works' illuminates the importance of debate in growing our economy and achieving radical socio-economic transformation. -- Jessie DuarteAre the economic imperatives for employment and growth reconcilable with those for transformation and redress? What are the tough choices confronting a developing economy to lift itself out of poverty into a globally competitive player? Read more from Herbst and Mills to find out the answers. -- Sipho Pityana, Chairperson, AngloGold AshantiSouth Africa 20 years after transition is a complex and multidimensional country. Competing alliances and juxtapositions have changed the dynamics of the 'new South Africa'. 'How South Africa Works' helps to understand the evolving paradigm and provides potential solutions. It is a welcome and unemotional addition to the debate -- a worthwhile read! -- Gareth Ackerman, Chairperson, Pick n PayAs we enter the third decade of our democracy, the disjuncture between South Africa's potential and its performance has never been as stark. 'How South Africa Works' is an urgent call to all South African leaders to revisit yesterday’s assumptions and to abandon the politics, policies and practices that are stifling growth and with it, for millions, the hope of a better tomorrow. -- Mark Lamberti, Group CEO, Imperial Holdings LimitedSouth Africa is a complicated place. Held back by its history, it is challenged to break out of a motionless present to build a brighter future for the generation still to be born. This is an enormous task that all South Africans must debate and embrace. 'How South Africa Works' is a courageous and timely contribution to that debate and needed course of action. -- Moe Shaik, Development Bank of South AfricaThe great strength of this book is that the analysis is supported by a wealth of in-depth interviews: Herbst and Mills illustrate how South Africa could work so much better if its considerable human potential were to be liberated by economic reform. -- Mike Spicer, WesgroJeffrey Herbst and Greg Mills present intriguing findings about how South African businesses are squaring up to local and global challenges, putting a vivid, human face to South African entrepreneurship. Their proposals provoke much-needed debate on how to improve South Africa’s economic performance. -- Kenneth Creamer, economist, University of the WitwatersrandJeffrey Herbst and Greg Mills have written an exceptionally timely book. Notwithstanding the country's significant political and economic advances, high rates of unemployment threaten those gains and, indeed, the freshly woven social fabric of the 'Rainbow Nation' itself. The volume meticulously examines this crisis and thoughtfully engages virtually everyone in a position to either contribute to its resolution, or obstruct that progress. Even those who will find themselves disagreeing with the remedies prescribed in How South Africa Works will nevertheless need to grapple with the comprehensive case made by the authors. -- J. Peter Pham, Director, Africa Center, Atlantic Council, and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of the Middle East and AfricaA brilliant book that lays out the problems and solutions for the South African economy with clarity. -- Ray Hartley, Editor, Rand Daily MailJeffrey Herbst and Greg Mills succinctly argue in 'How South Africa Works' that economic decline is not inevitable and that South Africa can compete on the world stage. This book is a must-read for those concerned about South Africa's economic future and how it may develop. -- Alex Vines OBE, Head, Africa Programme, Chatham House, London

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Book SynopsisWidespread confusion over the use of the terms Islamism or Political Islam often obscures the fact that these are not new phenomena and can be traced back more than a century. But like all utopian beliefs, such as Communism, Islamism cannot entirely resist the broader currents of political and social change that confront it today, especially globalisation. Through meticulous on the ground and theoretical research in to the trajectories of current and former Islamists, the contributors to this book seek to understand what has become of political Islam. While many scholars have focused on the drift to violence of historical Islamism, they look at the other side of the coin to describe the continuities and not the ruptures of Islamism with its own ideology.Political Islam remains relevant to a new generation of militants but the channels through which it is expressed have changed. Jihad is often conducted electronically, via membership of Islamist e-mail list-servers; Islamist activism has been personalized, domesticated even, through the consumption of Islamic soft drinks and other lifestyle choices; and, the street protests that characterized the Islamist struggle in its heyday face competition from Islamic rap stars' concerts. These are among the issues addressed in this innovative volume.Trade Review'Whatever Happened to the Islamists? will be welcomed by all who seek to understand the impact of the Arab uprising and the role of Islamists during this historic period of political transformation in the Arab world.' * John L. Esposito, University Professor, Georgetown University and author of The Future of Islam *'Amel Boubekeur and Olivier Roy present a refreshing and provocative collection of essays, including several by younger scholars and others whose writings are rarely available in English. They display the iconoclasm, unanticipated fusions, and the modernity of contemporary Islamic activism, much of which does not see conquest of state power as a central objective. Islamic activism today is manifested in all-women heavy metal bands, consumerism, corporate big business, and individualised consumer and cultural choices. This book deserves to be widely read and debated, especially by journalists, pundits, and public policy makers who may have thought they already knew what Islamism is.' * Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History, Stanford University *'Although recent events in the Middle East seem to answer the question posed by this volume's title, news headlines obscure a tectonic shift in Islamism that has occurred over the last couple of decades. Whatever Happened to the Islamists? represents one of the most exciting and innovative analyses of contemporary dislocations in the ideological project of political Islam to be published in recent years. It points the way forward for an entire field of study.' * Peter Mandaville, George Mason University and author of Global Political Islam *

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Book SynopsisWith more than 35 years experience of jihadist activism, Abu Mus'ab al-Suri remains the foremost theoretician in the global jihadist movement today, despite his capture in Pakistan in late 2005. After having participated in the founding of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in 1988, al-Suri, whose real name is Mustafa Sethmarian Nasar, trained a whole generation of young jihadis at his camps in Afghanistan. When he moved back to Spain in the early 1990s, al-Suri took part in establishing Al-Qaeda networks in Europe. In the mid-1990s, he rose to prominence in jihadi circles as editor of the London-based bulletin of the Algerian Groupe Islamique Armee, the most deadly Islamist terrorist group operating in Europe at the time. Al-Suri later formed his own media centre and training camp in Taleban-ruled Afghanistan, to which he returned in 1998. Building on his extensive military experience from the Syrian Islamist insurgency in the early 1980s, he contributed decisively to formulating Al-Qaeda's global warfare strategy. Throughout his writings there is a desire to learn from past mistakes and rectify the course of the jihadi movement. His 1,600 page masterpiece, "The Global Islamic Resistance Call", outlines a broad strategy for the coming generation of Al-Qaeda, with a keen eye for the practical implementation of jihadi guerrilla warfare theories. His ideas of how to maximise the political impact of jihadi violence and how to build autonomous cells for 'individualised terrorism' have inspired many jihadi militants of today. The book includes a translation of two key chapters from al-Suri's seminal work "The Global Islamic Resistance Call".Trade ReviewIlluminating. -- Ahmed Rashid * New York Review of Books *Al-Suri has been read at West Point, profiled by Lawrence Wright in the New Yorker, heralded by Newsweek as the 'Francis Fukuyama of al Qaida' and by CNN as 'the most dangerous terrorist you've never heard of'... One of the striking things we learn from Lia's book is how often Al Qaida's adversaries threw it a lifeline. * London Review of Books *This biography by Brynjar Lia, a Norwegian expert on the subject, is a welcome addition to books on Islamist extremism. … Ginger-haired and married to a Spaniard, Mr al-Suri went by several aliases, including El Español and El Rubio (the blond one). He was little known outside Islamist circles until the Madrid train bombings in March 2004 when Spanish investigators named him as a possible ideological influence, if not the actual mastermind. * The Economist *An authoritative volume on a man who is possibly the most important jihadi theoretician alive. -- Steven Brooke * The American Interest *A genuinely important and path-breaking book. -- Peter Hart * Globe & Mail *Architect of the Global Jihad is a compelling and meticulously researched biography of one of the most influential strategists and thinkers in Islamist circles. Abu Mus'ab al-Suri may not be a household name in the West, but his importance as a theorist, organizer and ideologue is difficult to overstate. For those seeking to understand Al-Qaeda and its affiliates, author Brynjar Lia's work is critical reading and highly illuminating. -- Craig Whitlock, Berlin Bureau Chief * The Washington Post *A groundbreaking analysis of the militant trajectory of one of the most important--albeit little known--jihadist ideologues of the post 9/11 era. It provides essential reading for any one eager to penetrate in-depth the intellectual environment and logics of radical islamist terrorist doctrine, thanks to Lia's remarkable mastery of Arabic language and Islamic culture. -- Gilles Kepel, Professor and Chair, Middle East StudiesBrynjar Lia's masterfully researched work remains the only known contribution to the terrorism studies field that parses the history and thought of al-Suri. Far beyond its utility as an historical analysis, Lia's work is extraordinarily timely as he extracts the finer points of al-Suri's now widely circulated theories that may have informed the conduct of the London and Madrid attacks. -- Jeffrey Cozzens, Intelligence and Terrorism Analysis GroupBrynjar Lia's book is an innovative, well-sourced, and thorough account of the life and work of Abu Mus'ab al-Suri. Lia’s book digs behind the myths and public speculation around al-Suri and gives a comprehensive picture of the man and his works. It is crucial to an understanding of international jihadi ideology and needs to be widely studied. -- Jeevan DeolA fascinating study -- Malise Ruthven * New York Review of Books *A brilliant, well-researched work. -- Lester W. Grau * The Journal of Military History *Lia's book should be essential reading. -- Marisa Urgo * Political Studies Review *This valuable biography of Abu Mus'ab al-Suri . . . contributes to the understanding of jihadi strategic thought, an area where incisive and thorough scholarship has been lacking. -- Daveed Gartenstein-Ross * Middle East Quarterly *Brynjar Lia has written an impressively authoritative biography of one of contemporary jihad's most important and influential thinkers. In Architect of Global Jihad, Lia charts the rise and consequences of Abu Mus'ab al-Suri’s prominence in al-Qaeda and how his worldview continues to shape and define the movement’s strategy and tactics. This work is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand al-Qaeda’s violent struggle and its likely future trajectory. -- Bruce Hoffman, professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, and senior fellow, Combating Terrorism Center, U.S. Military Academy

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Book SynopsisIs Scottish independence incompatible with ‘Labour values’?Are ‘Labour values’ being realised within the Union?How much really divides Yes campaigners from Labour voters?Why Not? Scotland, Labour and Independence is a passionate and often personal appeal to Labour voters (and other progressive Scots) to consider the social, economic and political gains that could be won with Scottish self-government. Bringing together a range of diverse voices – some from within the Labour Party, some from within the SNP, some from the non-aligned Left – it presents the social justice case for a Yes vote and argues that independence offers the clearest route forward for socialist and centre-left Scotland.Urgent, original and provocative, Why Not? is a vital contribution to the independence debate – and essential reading for all Scots.

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Book SynopsisCaledonian Dreaming examines the state of contemporary Scotland, the independence referendum, and its wider consequences. In this short, accessible book, Hassan challenges the myths that define modern Scotland and its place in the United Kingdom. He forensically examines the shortcomings of Scottish society – from the ‘missing Scotland’ of voters disconnected from public life to the collusion of Labour and SNP on most issues bar independence. He argues that Scotland has the potential to become a modern, progressive, democratic country – aided by the creative energies and passions unleashed by the independence question.Trade ReviewUnderstanding that the old stories we tell ourselves influence the new stories we go on to write, Gerry Hassan has crafted a brilliant book unpacking the political narratives that have shaped modern Scotland in order to create a space to imagine anew. A book about Scotland important to anyone, anywhere, dreaming a new world. STEPHEN DUNCOMBE With one bound Scotland could be free! How tempting that looks to the progressive-minded on both sides of the border. If only it were that easy. Gerry Hassan drills down to deeper reasons why the many dysfunctions of British democracy could dog an independent Scotland too. With a non-partisan but beady eye on society both sides of the border, in this clever book here are tougher questions to consider than a mere Yes/No. POLLY TOYNBEE The Guardian

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Book SynopsisGreat Britain, (abbreviation: UK) England, Wales and Scotland considered as a unit. The name is also often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom.reboot, ri-bu:t , verb to restart or revive… give fresh impetus to…federal, fed ar-al, adj. having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs.Would federalism work in the UK?Wouldn’t England dominate a British federation?How would powers be distributed between federal and home Nation level?What about the House of Lords?In the run up to the historic referendum on Scottish independence there has been a plethora of tracts, articles and books arguing for and against, but there remains a gap in the literature: the case for Scotland becoming part of a ‘rebooted’ federal Union. It is an old, usually Liberal, dream, but one still worth fighting for.It is often assumed that federalism is somehow ‘alien’ to the Scottish and British constitutional tradition but in this short book journalist David Torrance argues that not only has the UK already become a quasi-federal state but that formal federation is the best way of squaring the competing demands of Nationalists and Unionists.He also uses Scotland’s place within a federal UK to examine other potential reforms with a view to tackling ever-increasing inequality across the British Isles and create a more equal, successful and constitutionally coherent country.Trade Review.

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Book SynopsisThe future of Scotland is at a crossroads as Brexit creates more complexity and confusion. The SNP has lost momentum and a window of opportunity has emerged for a wider and deeper debate about the current political situation both in Scotland and the UK. What's the matter with democracy in Britain and how can we make citizenship meaningful in such turbulent times? How is populism changing how we view politics, political parties and democracy? Europe is our future - how can we stay in the EU? How can we address the anger, mistrust and fear currently dominating the public discourse and bitterly dividing Britain? What is Scotland's future role within the UK? How do we develop a more inspired politics where the citizen is valued and taken seriously? This book examines the most pressing issues facing us today in the context of the political and constitutional upheaval that is coursing throughout Western democracies. The shock politics of Trump and Brexit demonstrate that the political landscape has changed and we face an uncertain future. Henry McLeish offers a new approach to get us out of the mess we're in.Trade Review.

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Book SynopsisThe Wey Forrit is a political work written in Scots which examines the current British political climate, with a particular focus on how the inner workings of Westminster affect Scotland and her people. Arguing from a communitarian perspective, Stuart McHardy meticulously pulls apart the long-standing political ideas and traditions which many citizens of the United Kingdom have automatically accepted as correct or justified. He challenges his readers to re-think the consensus. Focusing on some of today's most highly discussed and potentially divisive topics - such as Brexit and Scottish Independence - McHardy lambasts the 'peelie-wallie politicians and lickspittle journalists' who protect the needs of the rich and sneer at those outside the realms of money and power. His views on the sovereignty of the Scottish Nation are also put forward, considering both the past and future implications of the way in which Britain came into being and the way in which it has been run for the three centuries since the Act of Union.Trade Review.

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Book SynopsisDespite the more general social, political and economic advances that have been made under the ANC's rule since 1994, power has not only remained in the hands of a small minority but has increasingly been exercised in service to capital. This has seen the ANC become the key political vehicle, in party and state form as well as application, of corporate capital; both domestic and international, black and white, local and national and constitutive of a range of different fractions. As a result, 'transformation' has largely taken the form of macro-acceptance of, combined with micro-incorporation into, the capitalist system, now minus its specific and formal apartheid frame. This book tells that 'story' by offering a critical, fact-based and actively informed holistic analysis of the ANC in power.

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