Political structure and processes Books

Book SynopsisMagnitsky's brutal killing has remained uninvestigated and unpunished to this day. His farcical posthumous show-trial brought Putin's regime to a new low in the eyes of the international community.Trade Review"Reads like a classic thriller, with an everyman hero alone and in danger in a hostile foreign city ... but it's all true, and it's a story that needs to be told." Lee Child "The story of Sergei Magnitsky's life and death is a shocking true-life thriller, and Bill Browder was the man to write it." Tom Stoppard "A sizzling account of Mr Browder's rise, fall and metamorphosis from bombastic financier to renowned human-rights activist ... Reads more like a financial thriller than a real-life story." The Economist "An unburdening, a witness statement and a thriller all at the same time ... Electrifying ... One heck of a read." -- Giles Whittell The Times "An expose of years of state-sponsored torture and murder ... this story of courage combined with a dash of obsessiveness is about the real here and now." -- Sonia Purnell The Independent

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Book SynopsisWritten in 1957, when North African independence movements were gaining momentum, The Colonizer and the Colonized studies the enduring legacy, political as much as psychological, of colonisation throughout the world. Albert Memmi depicts colonialism as a disease of the European but crucially he demonstrates that colonialism destroys both the colonizer and the colonized, providing penetrating insights into colonial inheritance and resistance that remain as relevant today. One of the great works of twentieth-century political thought, The Colonizer and the Colonized speaks to experiences in the Global South as well as European countries such as Britain and France, who are still struggling with their imperial pasts. In revealing the mechanisms of colonial oppression, it also highlights the origins of all oppression of one group by another. This edition includes introductions by two of the greatest writers of the twentieth-century: South African novelist and Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer, and Jean-Paul Sartre.Trade ReviewWidely influential -- New YorkerEnlightening, disturbing and thoughtful. * Glasgow Herald *Confiscated by colonial police throughout the world since its 1957 publication, The Colonizer and the Colonized is an important document of our times, an invaluable warning for all future generations. * Los Angeles Times *The subject of colonialism has rarely been treated more lucidly and devastatingly than in this book * Library Journal *The sickness of the world ... cannot be healed by traditional masters of the world alone. * Nadine Gordimer *Memmi's analysis of the sociological and psychological effects of colonialism had and retains a wider application. * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis*A TIMES AND TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR*WHAT CAUSED THE FALL OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY EUROPE, AND THE RISE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING?In the 1930s, Germany was at a turning point, with many looking to the Nazi phenomenon as part of widespread resentment towards cosmopolitan liberal democracy and capitalism. This was a global situation that pushed Germany to embrace authoritarianism, nationalism and economic self-sufficiency, kick-starting a revolution founded on new media technologies, and the formidable political and self-promotional skills of its leader.Based on award-winning research and recently discovered archival material, The Death of Democracy is a panoramic new survey of one of the most important periods in modern history, and a book with a resounding message for the world today.'Extremely fine... with careful prose and scholarship, he brings these events close to us.' Timothy Snyder, The New York Times'Intelligent, well-informed... intriguing.' The Times'With the injection of fresh contemporary voices, The Death of Democracy is also a thoughtful reflection of how our time more resembles the Thirties than the Noughties.' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewExtremely fine... with careful prose and scholarship, with fine thumbnail sketches of individuals and concise discussions of institutions and economics, he brings these events close to us. Hett... sensitively describes a moral crisis that preceded a moral catastrophe. -- Timothy Snyder * The New York Times *Intelligent, well-informed... intriguing. Hett provides a lesson about the fragility of democracy and the danger of that complacent belief that liberal institutions will always protect us. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *Readable and well-researched, with the injection of fresh contemporary voices, The Death of Democracy is also a thoughtful reflection of how our time more resembles the Thirties than the Noughties. * Daily Telegraph *Benjamin Carter Hett deftly summarises this dismal period... Hett refrains from poking the reader with too many obvious contemporary parallels, but he knew what he was doing when he left "German" out of his title. On the book's final page, he lays his cards on the table... "Suddenly, the whole thing looks close and familiar." Yes, it does. -- Alex Ross * New Yorker *A superb explanation of how democracy died in Weimar Germany. Too much of this story seems painfully familiar today. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times, 'Books of the Year' *

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Book SynopsisEugene L. Wolfe looks at how instances of individual strife faced by Members of Parliament - be it arrest or imprisonment, brawls on the floor, attacks by individual members of the public, or other examples of danger - have reflected changes and developments in British political history.Trade ReviewA detailed work... Bewildered observers could do worse than to pick up his book for a guide as to how we got here. -- The Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER In the past few decades, legislatures throughout the world have suffered from gridlock. In democracies, laws and policies are just as soon unpicked as made. It seems that Congress and Parliaments cannot forge progress or consensus. Moreover, courts often overturn decisions made by elected representatives. In the absence of effective politicians, many turn to the courts to solve political and moral questions. Rulings from the Supreme Courts in the United States and United Kingdom, or the European court in Strasbourg may seem to end the debate but the division and debate does not subside. In fact, the absence of democratic accountability leads to radicalisation. Judicial overreach cannot make up for the shortcomings of politicians. This is especially acute in the field of human rights. For instance, who should decide on abortion or prisoners' rights to vote, elected politicians or appointed judges? Expanding on arguments first laid out in the 2019 Reith Lectures, Jonathan Sumption argues that the time has come to return some problems to the politicians.Trade Reviewbrisk, entertaining, brilliant ... one of the great lawyers of our time -- Bryan Appleyard * the Sunday Times *magisterial -- Edward Fennell * the Times *

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Book SynopsisAs a close aide to Michel Barnier, Stefaan De Rynck had a front row seat in the Brexit negotiations. In this frank and uncompromising account, De Rynck tells the EU’s side of the story and seeks to dispel some of the myths and spin that have become indelibly linked to the Brexit process. From the mood in the room to the technical discussions, he gives an unvarnished account of the deliberations and obstacles that shaped the final deal. De Rynck demonstrates how the EU-27’s unity held firm throughout, while the UK vacillated, changed negotiators, changed prime ministers and changed their aims and tactics. Attempts by the UK to run down the clock and issue ultimatums to force the EU to acquiesce are shown to have had no effect on the course of events. Instead Barnier’s team was successful in protecting EU interests, in fulfilling the mandate defined by 27 national governments while still agreeing different forms of Brexit with two UK prime ministers. For the EU, Brexit was not, as some UK commentators and politicians liked to portray it, a fight with the UK. It was a fight to get a deal that worked for the EU.Trade ReviewAn insider account of how the EU dealt with Brexit by one of the close aides of Michel Barnier, the EU’s former chief negotiator. Without descending into triumphalism, the book shows how the EU achieved all its main strategic objectives — while the British side played a weak hand badly. -- Gideon Rachman, Financial Times, BEST SUMMER BOOKS 2023This EU insider’s account reveals how British politicians were outclassed… many reporters came to know De Rynck as a straight-talking, trusted source who could explain the technical issues at the heart of the negotiations. There is plenty of fascinating detail here for students of Brussels statecraft. -- Simon Nixon, The TimesThe Brexit you’ll never hear about from a British negotiator. An important book. -- Robert Peston, ITV Political EditorDe Rynck writes with the fierce and exhausted pride of a member of a crack team of surgeons who have just successfully carried out a highly complex operation for the very first time. * European Political Science *A book as good as this could only have been written by someone on the inside – and with the impressive breadth and depth of knowledge as Stefaan De Rynck. It is as illuminating as it is fascinating. Reading it not only makes for better understanding of Brexit but of the EU itself and – dare I say – of the post-Brexit UK. -- Katy Hayward, Professor of Political Sociology, Queen’s University BelfastStefaan De Rynck had a ringside seat for all the twists and turns of Britain’s departure from the European Union. This insightful book provides important insights into Brexit from a European perspective – and explains how and why we got to where we are today. -- Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The TimesA piercing analysis of the UK's historic decision to leave the EU, De Rynck’s masterful overview may make difficult reading for some in Britain but it offers hope that the two sides can take a more constructive approach going forward. -- Pippa Crerar, Political Editor, The GuardianAn accurate and true insight into the machinations of Brexit, our role as negotiators and our efforts to bring the deal over the line. -- Michel Barnier, former chief EU Brexit negotiatorA valuable account… well worth a read because the narrative is so revealing of the EU’s mindset during these crucial years. -- Lord Frost, The HouseAn insider’s account of an arduous process… its message: unpreparedness has grave consequences in politics. -- Business PostTable of ContentsForeword by Peter Foster Chronology Introduction Part I: Uniting the EU (June 2016–December 2017) 1. No negotiation without notification 2. More glue for uniting the EU 3. Brexit bill: show EU the money 4. Protecting citizens’ rights: which rights, which citizens? Q. How do we explain the unity of the EU? Part II: On the elusive search for a bespoke relationship (July 2016–November 2018) 5. The transition period (aka “a vassal state”) 6. The Barnier staircase from Norway to Canada: it is cold outside of the EU 7. Theresa May wants a common rulebook on UK terms 8. The Salzburg summit, sound but no music Q. Was Mutti Merkel tougher than the rest? Part III: On the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland (June 2017–December 2020) 9. The origins of the backstop 10. Theresa May’s Pyrrhic victory 11. Boris Johnson meets Brexit reality 12. Johnson agrees to customs checks in the Irish Sea Q. Did the EU fail to understand Northern Ireland? Part IV: The journey towards the meaning of Brexit (2020– ) 13. The UK leaving global Europe: strategic myopia by the EU? 14. The rollercoaster ride to a level playing field 15. Frosty negotiations on a new relationship Q. On the art of the deal? Conclusion

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Book SynopsisEconomics has the power to make the world a better, happier and safer place: this book shows you howOur world is in a mess. The challenges of climate change, inequality, hunger and a global pandemic mean our way of life seems more imperilled and society more divided than ever; but economics can help! From parenting to organ donation, housing to anti-social behaviour, economics provides the tools we need to fix the biggest issues of today. Far from being a means to predict the stock market or enrich the elite, economics provides a lens through which we can better understand how things work, design clever solutions and create the conditions in which we can all flourish. With a healthy dose of optimism, and packed with stories of economics in everyday situations, Erik Angner demonstrates the methods he and his fellow economists use to help improve our lives and the society in which we live. He shows us that economics can be a powerful force for good, awakening the possibility of a happier, more just and more sustainable world.

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Book SynopsisWhat might COVID-19 mean for, and reveal about, China’s place in the world? The coronavirus pandemic started in Wuhan, home to the leading lab studying the SARS virus and bats. Was that pure coincidence? This book explores what we know, and still don’t know, about the origins of COVID-19, and how it was handled in China. We may never get all the answers, but much is already clear: China’s record as the origin of earlier pandemics, and its struggle to bring contagious diseases under control; its history as both a victim of biological warfare and a developer of deadly bioweapons. When Covid broke out, Wuhan was building science parks to realise Beijing’s ambitions in biotech research. Whoever achieves global leadership of the gene-editing industry stands to harvest great power and wealth. China has already challenged Western technological supremacy with 5G and in other industries. Yet this tiny, invisible virus has cruelly exposed a critical flaw in the Chinese political system: obsessive secrecy. The West wanted to trust the PRC, hoping that, as it prospered, it would become an open society. Made in China reveals how Beijing’s leaders have betrayed that trust.Trade Review'Mr. Becker […] provides useful context about the complicated history of U.S.-China relations. [Made in China] brings to the surface what is often a subtext in these debates about virus research: the spectre of biological warfare.' -- The Wall Street Journal

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Book Synopsis''A crucial, riveting polemic in support of one of the most precious things humanity has built - democracy itself'' OWEN JONES''Graham Smith shows what fools our rotten constitution makes of us, with a monarch as emblem of a country beset by nepotism, backhanders, chumocracy and inherited privilege. Read and rebel!'' POLLY TOYNBEEWe''re constantly told the same things about the monarchy:But the monarchy is good for tourism..It isn''t! Evidence points to some royal weddings actually having a negative impact on inbound tourism.But the monarchy makes a big difference to charity..Of the approx. 1,200 charities with a royal patron, 74% had no contact with their patron during the preceding year.But everyone loves the monarchy..A January 2023 poll showed support for the monarchy is down 55 percent.It''s wrong in principle and it doesn''t work in practice. It doesn''t have

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Book SynopsisWeak or failed states - where no government is in control - are the source of many of the world's most serious problems, from poverty, AIDS and drugs to terrorism. What can be done to help? The problem of weak states and the need for state-building has existed for many years, but it has been urgent since September 11 and Afghanistan and Iraq. The formation of proper public institutions, such as an honest police force, uncorrupted courts, functioning schools and medical services and a strong civil service, is fraught with difficulties. We know how to help with resources, people and technology across borders, but state building requires methods that are not easily transported. The ability to create healthy states from nothing has suddenly risen to the top of the world agenda. State building has become a crucial matter of global security. In this hugely important book, Francis Fukuyama explains the concept of state-building and discusses the problems and causes of state weakness and its national and international effects.Trade Review'Thought-provoking... svelte but sophisticated' Sunday Times 'Wide-ranging thoughtful analysis.' Newsweek 'Debate-provoking sharpness' Observer 'Fukuyama has no solution. But, for me, it is enough that he offers so clear a diagnosis... His book should make a lot of people think.' Times Higher Education Supplement 'There are some insightful and intelligent analyses... It's undeniably high-quality source material for students of politics and history and anyone who wants to know more about how the world works.' Focus

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Book SynopsisThis accessible new textbook situates the European Union in a dramatically changed world order. Resisting a more traditional and abstract introduction to the institutions, structures and policy making processes of the EU, this innovative new text cuts through the jargon to demonstrate how hard the EU must work to retain its international influence. Taking into account the latest empirical developments, including the spread of war and violence in the East with Ukraine and the ongoing turbulent politics of North Africa and the Middle East, Richard Youngs an expert in the field introduces us to how the EU has been forced to act differently. The book is unique in offering an outside-in conceptual framework that inverts the way that the EU external action is studied and understood. It unpacks the different international challenges the EU has faced in recent years, including the weakening of global order, the need for more protective security, geo-economic competition, climate change and cTable of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction I: Background Chapter 2 The evolution and institutions of EU external action Chapter 3 An outside-in framework for EU external action II: Themes Chapter 4 Navigating the new international order Chapter 5 The EU and the rise of protective security Chapter 6 Geo-economic Europe Chapter 7 Enlargement and its limits Chapter 8 Climate change and energy security Chapter 9 Democracy and human rights III: Regional Challenges Chapter 10 Geopolitical shifts in the Middle East and North Africa Chapter 11 War in Ukraine and Russian challenges in Eastern Europe Chapter 12 Recasting the EU’s international influence

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Book SynopsisStudies of colonialism and empire have increasingly drawn attention to the problem of conceptualizing the political logic of colonial projects and the circumstances of state formation in colonial contexts. However, the nature and workings of the colonial state remains under-theorized and under-analysed. This volume addresses the analytical challenges of the colonial state from a variety of theoretical and thematic angles, and across a range of empirical cases that stretch over a vast span historically and geographically, to provide a new approach to analyzing the colonial state and its governmental practices.Trade ReviewContributed by scholars from Europe and the US and based on papers given at a conference and workshop held at the U. of Copenhagen, Denmark, the nine essays in this collection consider the colonial state in the context of governmental practices, violence, and agency. They discuss different configurations of power in two colonies of the US (Puerto Rico and the Philippines), mechanisms of power in Denmark and the Danish colony of Tranquebar at the end of the 18th century, and governmental power in the slave society of the Danish West Indies in the late 18th century; violence in the 1950s in the Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique, the police force Landespolizei in the German colony of Southwest Africa, and violence in the relational processes of territorialization in Morocco and Libya; and the role of local agency in relation to reforms of the British colonial state that increased state capacity in Trinidad and Tobago and colonial governance in Samoa at the end of the 19th century under the shared control of German, British, and American officials. -- Annotation ©2017 * (protoview.com) *Table of ContentsRethinking the Colonial State: Configurations of Power, Violence, and Agency Colonial Governmentality in Puerto Rico and the Philippines: Sovereign Force, Governmental Rationality, and Disciplinary Institutions under US Rule Comparing the Colonial State – Governing ‘the Social’ and Policing the Population in Late 18th Century India and Denmark Governing the Risks of Slavery: State-Practice, Slave Law, and the Problem of Public Order in 18th Century Danish West Indies Ordering Resistance: The Late Colonial State in the Portuguese Empire (1940-1975) Violence as Usual: Everyday Police Work and the Colonial State in German Southwest Africa Colonial War and the Production of Territorialized State Space in North Africa Resistance and Reforms: The Role of Subaltern Agency in Colonial State Development Colonialism by Deferral: Samoa Under the Tridominium, 1889-1899

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Book SynopsisPeople ask what is going wrong with the world, with new wars, extreme populist movements, climate breakdown, poverty, inequality and exclusion. There is a sense of unease, that things are falling apart', which is reflected both in global insecurity; a seeming failure to effectively negotiate or mediate in desperate wars (Ukraine, Sudan. Gaza) and a dismay at social injustice and rising poverty. This short book meets such concerns head-on, analyzing the worsening insecurity trap we are in, and how to get out of it. In the troubled decade that lies ahead, we have the combination of a bitterly divided world facing limits to growth and even climate breakdown. However, this is in a pervasive culture where national governments prioritise a security approach of hard militarism to enforce stability and protect the better off. Paul Rogers argues that responding to the prospect of a crowded glowering world, there are three questions to answer: Can we come to terms with the environmental limits

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Book SynopsisA scathing critique of the Left from an indigenous anti-colonial perspective.Why am I writing this book? Because I share Gramsci''s anxiety: “The old are dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.” The fascist monster, born in the entrails of Western modernity. Of course, the West is not what it used to be. Hence my question: what can we offer white people in exchange for their decline and for the wars that will ensue? There is only one answer: peace. There is only one way: revolutionary love.—from Whites, Jews, and UsWith Whites, Jews, and Us, Houria Bouteldja launches a scathing critique of the European Left from an indigenous anti-colonial perspective, reflecting on Frantz Fanon''s political legacy, the republican pact, the Shoah, the creation of Israel, feminism, and the fate of postcolonial immigration in the West in the age of rising anti-immigrant populism. Drawing upon such prominent voices as James Baldwin, Malcolm X, and Jean Genet, she issues a polemical call for a militant anti-racism grounded in the concept of revolutionary love.Such love will not come without significant discomfort for whites, and without necessary provocation. Bouteldja challenges widespread assumptions among the Left in the United States and Europe—that anti-Semitism plays any role in Arab-Israeli conflicts, for example, or that philo-Semitism doesn''t in itself embody an oppressive position; that feminism or postcolonialist theory is free of colonialism; that integrationalism is a solution rather than a problem; that humanism can be against racism when its very function is to support the political-ideological apparatus that Bouteldja names the “white immune system.”At this transitional moment in the history of the West—which is to say, at the moment of its decline—Bouteldja offers a call for political unity that demands the recognition that whiteness is not a genetic question: it is a matter of power, and it is high time to dismantle it.This Semiotext(e)/Intervention series English-language edition includes a foreword by Cornel West.

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Book Synopsis A “devastating” (Nation) examination of how a cabal of tech-billionaires is colluding with once-idealistic journalists to create an entirely new media landscapeOwned is the story of the underreported and growing collusion between new wealth and new journalism. In recent years, right-wing billionaires like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and David Sacks have turned to media as their next investment and source of influence. Their cronies are Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi—once known as idealistic and left-leaning voices, now beneficiaries of Silicon Valley largesse. Together, this new alliance aims to exploit the failings of traditional journalism and undermine the very idea of an independent and fact-based fourth estate.Owned examines how this shift has allowed spectacularly wealthy reactionaries to pursue their ultimate goal of censoring critics so to further their own business interests—and personal vendettas—entirely unimpeded while also advancing a toxic and antidemocratic ideology. A rich history of the decades-long rise of this new right-wing alternative media takeover, Owned follows the money, names names, and offers a chilling portrait of a future social media and news landscape. It is a biting exposé of journalistic greed, tech-billionaire ambition, and a lament for a disappearing free press.  

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Book Synopsis*Winner of the Enlightened Economist Prize 2019**Winner of Debut Writer of the Year at the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020**Longlisted for the Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award 2019*'Extreme Economies is a revelation - and a must-read.' Andy Haldane, Chief Economist at the Bank of EnglandTo understand how humans react and adapt to economic change we need to study people who live in harsh environments. From death-row prisoners trading in institutions where money is banned to flourishing entrepreneurs in the world's largest refugee camp, from the unrealised potential of cities like Kinshasa to the hyper-modern economy of Estonia, every life in this book has been hit by a seismic shock, violently broken or changed in some way.In his quest for a purer view of how economies succeed and fail, Richard Davies takes the reader off the beaten path to places where part of the economy has been repressed, removed, destroyed or turbocharged. He tells the personal stories of humans living in these extreme situations, and of the financial infrastructure they create. Far from the familiar stock reports, housing crises, or banking scandals of the financial pages, Extreme Economies reveals the importance of human and social capital, and in so doing tells small stories that shed light on today's biggest economic questions.'A highly original approach to understanding what really makes economies tick.' Mervyn King, former Governor of the Bank of EnglandTrade ReviewA highly original approach to understanding what really makes economies tick. Both insightful and accessible to non-economists. * Mervyn King, former Governor of the Bank of England *Davies visits economies pushed to the limit and examines what their response teaches us about resilience in the face of climate change, demographic shifts and state failure. * Financial Times *An exploration of the lessons to be drawn from disaster-stricken economies and imperilled (but innovative) people, which ranges from the jungles of Panama to post-tsunami Indonesia to the prison system of Louisiana and Syrian refugee camps. * The Economist - Books of the Year 2019 *Financial Times Best Books of 2019: Extreme Economies is a reflection on human resilience. The author takes you from a prison to a refugee camp to Kinshasa and Santiago to explain how economies work in extreme circumstances and why markets succeed or fail. Weaving economic theory and individual life stories, this is an important and enjoyable read.We learn most about ourselves at times of extreme stress and challenge. Using nine compelling country case studies, Richard Davies brilliantly demonstrates that the same is true of our economic systems. In its approach and insights, Extreme Economies is a revelation - and a must-read. * Andy Haldane, Chief Economist at the Bank of England *

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Book SynopsisConfessions of a Heretic is a collection of provocative essays by the influential social commentator and polemicist Roger Scruton. Each “confession” reveals aspects of the author’s thinking that his critics would probably have advised him to keep to himself. In this selection, covering subjects from art and architecture to politics and nature conservation, Scruton challenges popular opinion on key aspects of our culture: What can we do to protect Western values against Islamist extremism? How can we nurture real friendship through social media? Why is the nation-state worth preserving? How should we achieve a timely death against the advances of modern medicine? This provocative collection seeks to answer the most pressing problems of our age. In his introduction, the bestselling author and commentator Douglas Murray writes of what it cost Scruton to express views considered unpalatable, and of the importance of these ideas after Scruton’s death.

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Book SynopsisFocussing on how the Romans made Europe work as a homogenous civilisation and looking at why we are failing to make the EU work in modern times, this is an authoritative and amusing study from bestselling author Boris Johnson.In addition to his roles as politician, editor, author and television presenter, Boris Johnson is a passionate Roman scholar. The recent Dream of Rome' TV series saw him travelling throughout the Roman Empire in order to uncover the secrets of the governance of the empire, and the reasons behind why the Romans held such power and prestige for so long.Fiercely interested in Europe and the current issues facing the European Union, Boris Johnson will look at the lessons we could learn from the Romans and how we could apply them to our modern politics.Boris Johnson was the editor of the Spectator, MP for Henley and is now the new Shadow Minister for Education. He writes a column for the Daily Telegraph and lives in London and Oxfordshire with his wife and their childrTrade Review'As an introduction to the history of the Roman empire, this book is hugely stimulating. I read it in two sittings, completely gripped. If Ruth Kelly has an ounce of sense, she will make this book compulsory reading for every 16-year old in the country.' Toby Young, New Statesman 'History comes alive only when written from the heart and Johnson's is full of swashbuckling japes, bloodthirsty yells and energetic sideswipes.' Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday 'Written with all the wit and zest that have helped to make him Britain's favourite celebrity MP.' Tom Holland, Daily Telegraph 'Johnson has not been intimidated by dry classics masters: his style is bright, breezy, populist and pacy.' The Times 'Described with his special combination of sharp-eyed intelligence and golly-gosh exclamation…the sublime and the bizarre are richly represented in this portrayal of ancient Rome…a splendid romp through the Roman world.' Sunday Telegraph 'Lovers of Latin and ancient history unite! At long last there is a warm, funny, erudite introduction to the Roman empire…The success of “The Dream of Rome” lies in the modern twang of the author. It is an art Boris Johnson has to perfection…a marvellous reader-friendly account of Rome.' Independent

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAmerica is suffering from PTSD. The Reckoning diagnoses its core causes and helps begin the healing process.For four years, Donald J Trump inflicted an onslaught of overlapping and interconnected traumas upon the American people, targeting anyone he perceived as being an 'other' or an enemy. Women were discounted and derided, the sick were dismissed as weak and unworthy of help, immigrants and minorities were demonised and discriminated against and money was elevated above all else. In short, he transformed America into a macro version of his malignantly dysfunctional family.How can Americans make sense of the degree to which their institutions and leaders have let them down? How can they negotiate a world in which all sense of safety and justice seems to have been destroyed? How can they - as individuals and as a nation - confront, process and overcome this loss of trust and the ways they have been forever altered by chaos, division and cruelty? And when the dust finally settles, how can they begin to heal, in the midst of ongoing health and economic crises and the greatest political divide since the Civil War?Mary L Trump is uniquely positioned to answer these difficult questions. She holds a PhD in clinical psychology specialising in trauma, has herself been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and happens to be Donald J Trump's only niece. In The Reckoning, she applies her unique expertise to the task of helping Americans confront an all-encompassing trauma, one that has taken an immense toll on their nation's health and well-being.A new leader alone cannot fix the situation. Donald J Trump is only the latest symptom of a disease that has existed within the body politic since America's inception - from the original sin of slavery through its population's unceasing, organised commitment to inequality. An enormous amount of healing must be done to rebuild the lives of Americans, their faith in leadership and their hope for their nation. It starts with The Reckoning.Trade ReviewA revealing blend of family lore, history, policy and anger casts light on the background and legacy of Donald Trump * The Observer *The book puts forth a concise, traumatic version of American history with events that textbooks often gloss over, diehard party-liners push from memory, and her uncle continually gaslit. [...] Dr. Trump has proven again her talent as she places words clearly on the page, calling upon her degrees in literature and psychology as well as her unparalleled experience as a family member. -- Loriann Oberlin * Psychologies *Mary Trump offers food for thought - and grist for the mill. -- Lloyd Green * Guardian *A scathing takedown * Guardian (on TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH) *Insights that no biographer can match * The Sunday Times (on TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH) *The most devastating, most valuable, and all-round best Trump book since he started running for president. * Politico (on TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH) *After many, many Trump books, this is an essential one. * Vanity Fair (on TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH) *A true insider in an era where 'insider' accounts of the president are a dime-a-dozen * Bloomberg (on TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH) *Table of Contentsi: Introduction ii: PART I: A SHORT HISTORY OF AMERICAN FAILURE: 1865-2020 1: Atrocities 2: Impunity iii: PART II: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS 3: American Carnage 4: Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here iv: PART III: AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM 5: Suffering in Silence 6: We Hold These Truths v: PART IV: THE RECKONING 7: The Precipice 8: The Long Shadow 9: Facing the Truth vi: Epilogue vii: Acknowledgments viii: A Note on Sources ix: References x: About the Author

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Book SynopsisThe fully updated fourth edition of this lively and accessible book argues for the central role of media in understanding and shaping globalization. By breaking down the economic, cultural, and political impact of media, and through a rich set of case studies, Jack Lule describes a divided global village, its destiny shaped by strife.

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Book SynopsisHow do we manage to transition to a more sustainable world without the collapse of the economy?Capitalism has brought about many positive things. At the same time, however, it is ruining the climate and the environment, so that humanity's very existence is now at risk. Green growth' is supposed to be the saviour, but economics expert and bestselling author Ulrike Herrmann disagrees. In this book, she explains in a clear and razor-sharp manner why we need green shrinkage' instead. Greenhouse gases are increasing dramatically and unchecked. This failure is no coincidence, because the climate crisis goes to the heart of capitalism. Prosperity and growth are only possible if technology is used and energy is utilised. Unfortunately, however, green energy from the sun and wind will never be enough to fuel global growth. The industrialised countries must therefore bid farewell to capitalism and strive for a circular economy in which only what can be recycled is consumed. Herrmann makes a convincing argument that we won't get anywhere without personal restrictions and government planning. Her example for a solution is the British war economy of the 1940s. This is not a utopian scenario, but a comprehensive example of the restrictions and government-led plans needed now and in the future.

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Book SynopsisBeing Muslim in Hindu India is an impassioned cry for attention, an attempt to highlight just what has gone wrong with our polity and society in recent years.

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Book SynopsisRichard Rose is Professor of Public Policy at Strathclyde University, Glasgow and a Visiting Fellow at the European University Institute, Florence and the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin. He is the author of 50 books on Russia, the European Union, and various Presidents and Prime Ministers. He has lectured on public policy issues in 45 countries; his works have been translated into 18 languages; and he has received a dozen awards from European, American and international institutions for his contribution to understanding public policies comparatively.

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Book SynopsisIt is not the well-being of individuals that makes cities great, but the well-being of the communityFew figures in intellectual history have proved as notorious and ambiguous as Niccolò Machiavelli. But while his treatise The Prince made his name synonymous with autocratic ruthlessness and cynical manipulation, The Discourses (c.1517) shows a radically different outlook on the world of politics. In this carefully argued commentary on Livy's history of republican Rome, Machiavelli proposed a system of government that would uphold civic freedom and security by instilling the virtues of active citizenship, and that would also encourage citizens to put the needs of the state above selfish, personal interests. Ambitious in scope, but also clear-eyed and pragmatic, The Discourses creates a modern theory of republic politics.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literatureTable of ContentsThe DiscoursesPrefaceIntroduction by Bernard CrickSo Many MachiavellisThe Prince and The DiscoursesRepublics as Mixed GovernmentThe Mixture as AdaptabilityThe Value of ConflictFactors of Social ClassThe Conditions for Republican RuleTheory and MethodPolitics and MoralityThe Letter to VettoriSuggestions for Further ReadingTHE DISCOURSES OF NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLITable of ContentsThe TextNotes

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“This ambitious and eye-opening book shows what political science at its best — based on real-world knowledge, free of jargon and focused on substantive concerns rather than disciplinary marginalia — can contribute to pressing contemporary debates.”—Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, TLS“Dictators without Borders is mandatory reading for those wishing to understand the power dynamics in the region, without falling into the trap of erroneously viewing Central Asia as a region that is closed off from the rest of the world.”—Ana-Maria Anghelescu, Journal of Soviet & Post-Soviet Politics & Society “Among a growing body of literature on the politics of Central Asia’s post- soviet states, Cooley and Heathershaw’s book occupies a distinctive position. [. . . ] The book provides a platform for future theoretical and empirical work on the interplay between global and domestic structural factors and agency in promoting, sustaining, and, perhaps, challenging “dictators without borders.” —Dinissa Duvanova, Canadian-American Slavic StudiesDictators Without Borders was shortlisted for the Central Eurasian Studies Society 2018 book award.“This insightful, ground-breaking book goes to the heart of why such governments are among the worst human rights abusers in the world—all the more reason it should be widely read.”—Hugh Williamson, Europe & Central Asia director, Human Rights Watch'This book shines an important light on the role international financial centres such as London play in facilitating grand corruption and reinforces the urgent need to address this continuing financial system weakness.'- Tom Keatinge, Director, Centre for Financial Crime & Security Studies at RUSI"Insightful and topical—a comprehensive take on a neglected region."—Edward Lucas, senior editor, Economist'This panoramic survey of cronyism and corruption in five Central Asian republics delivers a sobering insight into how the dictators in this quarter salt away their ill-gotten gains in offshore funds. But the greatest shock comes from revelations about the apparent complicity or indifference of Western companies, banks, regulators and politicians.' - Tristram Riley-Smith, Director of Research, Department of Politics & International Studies, University of Cambridge

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Book Synopsis''Essential reading ... An incisive and urgently needed book'' Tim Harford''[An] entertaining introduction to the uses (and misuses) of data ... a penetrating analysis of why statistical literacy matters to our politics and our daily lives'' Professor Jonathan Portes Our politicians make vital decisions and declarations every day that rely on official data. But should all statistics be trusted?In BAD DATA, House of Commons Library statistician Georgina Sturge draws back the curtain on how governments of the past and present have been led astray by figures littered with inconsistency, guesswork and uncertainty.Discover how a Hungarian businessman''s bright idea caused half a million people to go missing from UK migration statistics. Find out why it''s possible for two politicians to disagree over whether poverty has gone up or down, using the same official numbers, and for both to be right at the same time. And hear about how pTrade ReviewEssential reading for anyone who's ever wondered where all those numbers come from. Even more essential reading for anyone who hasn't. An incisive and urgently needed book -- Tim Harford, bestselling author of HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD ADD UP and presenter of BBC Radio 4's More or LessA tour de force ... To study BAD DATA is to discover the extreme limits to official knowledge -- Xand van Tulleken * TLS *Sturge is very effective at explaining, with human examples, how bad data affects lives. Readers of Hannah Fry's HELLO WORLD or Caroline Criado Perez's INVISIBLE WOMEN will be familiar with the notion that biased humans create biased artificial intelligence programmes. Here, we see their direct effects. ... [BAD DATA] is so good at inspiring curiosity and the inclination to challenge -- Katy Guest * Guardian *A whistle-stop tour of all the ways the data that forms the basis of policymaking can fall short -- Rachel Cunliffe * New Statesman *[An] excellent book ... there's something here for everyone who wants to better understand the limits of our knowledge about the country ... informative and at times amusing -- Simon Briscoe * TLS *Bracing ... the story of how often things go wrong in the political use of statistics -- John Lanchester * London Review of Books *This informative, reasoned, and apolitical book offers a string of examples to show that statistics are not always what they seem -- Christopher Snowdon * Quillette *The plural of anecdote is not data. But Georgina Sturge's entertaining introduction to the uses (and misuses) of data in public policy and debate combines numerous stories, some amusing, some disturbing, with a penetrating analysis of why statistical literacy matters to our politics and our daily lives -- Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy

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Book SynopsisHateful thoughts and words can lead to harmful actions like the March 2019 terrorist attack on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. In free, open and democratic societies, governments cannot justifiably regulate what citizens think, feel, believe or value, but do have a duty to protect citizens from harmful communication that incites discrimination, active hostility and violence.Written by a public policy advisor for fellow practitioners in politics and public life, this book discusses significant practical and moral challenges regarding internet governance and freedom of speech, particularly when responding to content that is legal but harmful. Policy makers and professionals working for governmental institutions need to strike a fair balance between protecting from harm and preserving the right to freedom of expression. And because merely passing laws does not solve complex social problems, governments need to invest, not just regulate. Governments, big tech and the private sector, civil society, individual citizens and the fourth estate all have roles to play, and counter-speech is everyone’s responsibility.This book tackles hard questions about internet governance, hate speech, cancel culture and the loss of civility, and illustrates principled pragmatism applied to perplexing policy problems. Furthermore, it presents counter-speech strategies as alternatives and complements to censorship and criminalisation.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction: After Christchurch.- Part I. Regulating Harmful Digital Communication.- Chapter 2. Challenges in Regulating Online Content.- Chapter 3. The Business Models of Big Tech.- Chapter 4. Deplatforming and Democratic Legitimacy.- Part II. Hate, Harm and the Limits of Censorship.- Chapter 5. Regulating “Hate Speech”.- Chapter 6. Free Speech and its Limits.- Chapter 7. Hate, Harm and the Liberal State.- Chapter 8. Striking a Fair Balance When Regulating Free Speech.- Chapter 9. Counter-speech is Everyone’s Responsibility.- Chapter 10. Conclusion: Cleaning Up After the Party

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Book SynopsisTheories of the Policy Process provides a forum for the experts in policy process research to present the basic propositions, empirical evidence, latest updates, and the promising future research opportunities of each policy process theory.In this thoroughly revised fifth edition, each chapter has been updated to reflect recent empirical work, innovative theorizing, and a world facing challenges of historic proportions with climate change, social and political inequities, and pandemics, among recent events. Updated and revised chapters include Punctuated Equilibrium Theory, Multiple Streams Framework, Policy Feedback Theory, Advocacy Coalition Framework, Narrative Policy Framework, Institutional and Analysis and Development Framework, and Diffusion and Innovation. This fifth edition includes an entirely new chapter on the Ecology of Games Framework. New authors have been added to most chapters to diversify perspectives and make this latest edition the most internatioTrade Review"Theories of the Policy Process, Fifth Edition continues to define public policy scholarship more than two decades after the first edition was published. The authors, under the editorial guidance of Chris Weible, deliver theoretically innovative material through the circumspect curation of updated chapters, a feat not insignificant for the fifth edition of an edited volume. Moreover, Theories of the Policy Process is most empirically relevant in substance and form: the expanding geographical scope of the theories’ practical applications renders the material spatially aware whereas the author teams are diverse, producing polyphonic scholarship. Theories of the Policy Process charted my own career path almost two decades ago—the fifth edition is a compass every student and researcher must possess in order to navigate the complex public policy questions of our time."Evangelia Petridou, Mid Sweden University, Sweden and NTNU Social Research, Norway"Theories of the Policy Process, Fifth Edition provides the most comprehensive set of theoretical lenses, including comparative lens, to observe complex policy processes. Each lens offered within this book is clear, unique and up to date. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the policy process quickly and conduct policy process research better."Fang Chen, School of Public Affairs, Xiamen University, China"The study of public policy processes is fundamental to our understanding of how governments, organizations and individuals interact over time. In this Fifth edition of the famous Theories of the Policy Process book, Christopher Weible manages to give readers a new and improved set of theories and concepts of the policy process. From Punctuated Equilibrium Theory to Narrative Policy Framework to Institutional Analysis and Development, chapter authors (all of them experienced policy process scholars) offer excellent and accessible theoretical insight into how public policy works as well as diverse frameworks and theories to understand it. Keeping Paul Sabatier’s legacy alive, Christopher Weible’s Theories of the Policy Process book is, and will remain, an indispensable source for policy scholars, practitioners and government officials worldwide."Raul Pacheco-Vega, Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) Sede México, MexicoTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Scope and Focus of Policy Process Research and Theories Part I: Theoretical Approaches to Policy Process Research 1. The Multiple Streams Framework: Foundations, Refinements, and Empirical Applications 2. Punctuated Equilibrium Theory: Explaining Stability and Change in Public Policymaking 3. Policy Feedback Theory 4. The Advocacy Coalition Framework: Progress and Emerging Areas 5. The Narrative Policy Framework 6. The IAD Framework and Its Tools for Policy and Institutional Analysis 7. Policy Diffusion and Innovation 8. The Ecology of Games Framework: Complexity in Polycentric Governance Part II: Comparisons and Conclusions 9. How Should We Compare Theories of the Policy Process? 10. Struggle and Triumph in Fusing Policy Process and Comparative Research 11. Advancing Policy Process Research and Theories

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Book SynopsisThis new selection of Gandhi's writings taken from his books, articles, letters and interviews sets out his views on religion, politics, society, non-violence and civil disobedience. Judith M. Brown's excellent introduction and notes examines his philosophy and the political context in which he wrote.Table of ContentsGANDHI, HIS MISSION, AND THE INFLUENCES ON HIM; AUTHENTIC HUMAN LIFE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL; TRANSFORMING SOCIETIES; INDIA UNDER BRITISH RULE: MAKING A NEW NATION; NON-VIOLENCE AS POLITICAL ACTION

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

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Book SynopsisAppointments to the United States Supreme Court are now central events in American political life. Every vacancy unleashes a bitter struggle between Republicans and Democrats over nominees; and once the seat is filled, new justices typically vote in predictable ways. However, this has not always been the case. As late as the middle of the twentieth century, presidents invested little time and effort in finding and vetting nominees, often selecting personal cronies, who senators briskly confirmed. Media coverage was desultory, public opinion was largely non-existent, and the justices often voted independently and erratically. In Making the Supreme Court, Charles M. Cameron and Jonathan P. Kastellec examine 90 years of American political history to show how the growth of federal judicial power from the 1930s onward inspired a multitude of groups struggling to shape judicial policy. Over time, some groups moved beyond lobbying the Court to changing who sits on it. Other groups formed exprTrade ReviewMaking the Supreme Court uses judicial nominees to investigate larger changes in American politics over the last century, enduring questions about the administrative state, political parties, citizens, interest groups, and lobbying-not to mention nettlesome debates about voter rationality, the downstream effects of partisan polarization, and plenty more besides. Keenly perceptive and abundantly inquisitive, Cameron and Kastellec have delivered a tour de force that is sure to have a major impact on our understanding of all of American politics. * William Howell, Sydney Stein Professor in American Politics, The University of Chicago *Making the Supreme Court is a game changer. It describes and analyzes the entire appointments process with the goal of explaining why Supreme Court nominations transformed from low to high salience events, and how this transformation affects the contemporary court. Because, on the authors' account, the transformation touched every aspect of the process-from the president's approach to selecting nominees to the media's coverage of the proceedings-an expansive approach was required. And Cameron and Kastellec take on the task with gusto. For each change they posit, they dig in, ultimately developing a compelling mix of evidence connecting the transformation to the Court and its decisions-meaning that Making the Supreme Court's contributions transcend the selection of justices; the results help us make sense of the behavior of the contemporary court. * Lee Epstein, University Professor of Law and Political Science, University of Southern California *An exemplary analysis of a hugely important political phenomenon: the evolution of a strongly partisan, and likely, very stable court. How did this happen? The authors argue that the answer is found in appointment politics, writ large. Supreme Court appointments are examined and explained systemically, from the vantages of presidents, senators, justices, media, voters, the past, present, and the futures too. Powerful analytic tools and models are developed and deployed, alternative theories are carefully examined and eliminated, and the results are persuasive. Making the Supreme Court is a definitive account that seems likely to last as long as the current court majority. * John A. Ferejohn, Samuel Tilden Professor of Law, New York University School of Law *Cameron and Kastellec's Making the Supreme Court is deeply researched and thought-out, and both theoretically and historically sophisticated. It will in short order become the key work on Supreme Court appointment politics. * Josh Chafetz, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center *Table of ContentsI. What Happened Then and Now The Party Demands: Party Agendas for the Supreme Court Selecting How to Select: Presidents and Organizational Design The Candidates for the Court and the Nominees Interest Groups The Media, co-authored with Leeann Bass and Julian Dean Public Opinion Decision in the Senate II. Why it Happened The Logic of Presidential Selection, co-authored with Lauren Mattioli What the Public Wanted Voting in the Shadow of Accountability: Senators' Confirmation Decisions III. How It Matters, and What the Future Holds New Politics, New Justices, New Policies: The Courts That Politics Made The Future: The Courts that Politics May Make What Future Do We Want? Evaluating Judicial Independence Conclusion

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Book SynopsisNow in its seventh edition, this comprehensive exploration of the political and policy-making roles of public bureaucracies offers extensive, well documented comparative analysis of the effects of politics on bureaucracy.Trade Review"The seventh edition of this popular textbook provides readers with a comprehensive and updated discussion of challenges and recent developments in the field of public bureaucracy. Modern public administration is placed in its political and intellectual context and analyzed in a skillful manner with insights into the challenges and opportunities of big contemporary government." — Per Lægreid, University of Bergen, Norway"At a time when political parties and politicians in democratic nations seem tone-deaf to concerns citizens have with government, Peter's classic text brings welcome insights into the inner workings of public institutions and the gargantuan changes that have occurred over the last forty years. His thoughtful discourse on the nature of public service, especially with regard to public bureaucracies, reminds us to root our understandings of the behavior of public bureaucrats within the cultural and political systems that bind them to both their political leaders and their citizenry. The comparative approach to providing such insight demonstrates his central thesis: the collective action problems that have helped to increase the size, role, and reach of governments around the world aren't going anywhere. Peters helps us to see where we've been so that we will better navigate the road ahead."– Jill L. Tao, Incheon National University, South Korea"A comprehensively up-dated edition with impressive coverage of public administration, topic-wise and globally. A wealth of comparative insights and analysis. Essential reading for all who seek to understand the structures and dynamics of the state, government and governance in diverse contexts." – Ian Thynne, Australian National University, AustraliaTable of Contents1. Public Administration and Governing 2. Political Culture and Public Administration 3. Recruiting Public Personnel 4. Problems of Administrative Structure 5. The Politics of Bureaucracy 6. The Bureaucracy and Political Institutions 7. The Politics of the Budgetary Process 8. The Politics of Administrative Accountability 9. Administrative Reform 10. The Politics of Public Management

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Book SynopsisChina's contemporary political economy features an emboldened role for the state as owner and regulator, and with markets expected to act in the service of party-state goals. This Element situates China's political economy in comparative analytic perspective with attention to adaptations of its model over time.Table of Contents1. Situating China's Political Economy; 2. Classic Conceptions and Models; 3. Evolution of China's Political Economy; 4. A New Model: Party-State Capitalism; 5. Explaining the Shifting Model; 6. External Backlash Against China's Model; 7. Conclusion: China's Development Model and Crises of Global Capitalism; References.

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Book SynopsisExperts on learning for democracy come together to explore why and how the gap in civic competence should be bridged. They make the case for a more effective form of political education that can enable citizens to learn to exert their influence over their government in an informed and meaningful manner.Trade Review" In a time of uncertainty, Tam’s intervention is timely and essential reading for those who believe that education is crucial in sustaining and deepening democracy. Tam presents evidence from around the world and outlines the recommended approaches that politicians, policy advisors, and educators need to familiarize themselves with." Journal of Peace EducationTable of Contents1. Introduction: Citizens, We Have a Problem - Henry Tam Part I: Why Changes Are Needed 2. Political Education in an Unequal Society - Diane Reay 3. Classroom Conflict, ‘Divisive Concepts’ and Educating for Democracy - Barrett Smith and Sarah M. Stitzlein 4. The Contested Scope of Academic Freedom - Dina Kiwan 5. Rethinking Citizenship Education for Political Literacy - Tony Breslin Part II: What Could Be Done Differently 6. Populism, Classrooms and Shared Authority - Kathleen Sellers and Kathleen Knight Abowitz 7. Different Approaches to Teaching Civic and National Identity - Edda Sant 8. Active Learning of Marginalised Young People - Kalbir Shukra 9. Universities’ Role in Teaching Practical Politics - Titus Alexander Part III: How to Make a Lasting Impact 10. The Evidence on Educational Methods for Political Engagement - David Kerr and Bryony Hoskins 11. Citizenship Education: Building for the Future - Lee Jerome and Liz Moorse 12. Reversing Democratic Decline through Political Education - Murray Print 13. Towards Civic Learning for All - Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg 14. Conclusion: Lessons for Democratic Health - Henry Tam

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Book SynopsisAre you fed up with the divided and unequal society or suffocating laws and regulations of the country where you live? Ever dreamed of starting your own country or just want to understand how that happens? In this refreshing new book, Matt Qvortrup provides a step-by-step guide to forming an independent country, from organising a referendum and winning it, to receiving official international recognition, establishing a currency and even entering the Eurovision song contest. The book delves into the legal, economic and political problems of creating new states, using historical examples and anecdotes from all over the world to illustrate the obstacles to these campaigns. Qvortrup recounts his globetrotting experiences as an expert consultant on referendums to give a no-nonsense explanation of the many hurdles and barriers, as well as the opportunities for those who want to break free.Trade Review‘I want to break free is the unapologetic book of political independence movements, by an advisor who has both global, ground-level political experience and encyclopaedic historic knowledge. Would-be states need this book as much as existing states in danger of runaway nations. If you are neither of these, you will simply find this book immeasurably informative and entertaining.’Dahlia Scheindlin, PhD., international political consultant and foreign affairs analyst'Matt Qvortrup’s concise book provides an expert guide to the practical issues of making a country formally independent, self-governing and part of the community of democratic nation-states. Myths are challenged, and historic and contemporary examples drawn from, which are relevant to how we make sense of independence in the age of interindependence. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in self-government in Scotland, Catalonia and elsewhere.'Gerry Hassan, Professor of Social Change, Glasgow Caledonian University and author of Scotland Rising: The Case for Independence'Full of insight and rich detail, Matt Qvortrup’s important new book provides an engaged and wonderfully engaging study of the passions and politics of state making.'Professor Alastair Bonnett, author of Off The Map and Beyond The Map'This book is a pearl within the study of secessionism that could only be written by someone knowing both the realpolitik of state-making and the depths of the multiple academic debates on this topic.'Marc Sanjaume-Calvet, Regional & Federal Studies'A good, well-written, practical survey of much of the law, politics, & economics of secession which should be informative to secessionists and counter-secessionists both.'Mark McGeoghegan, doctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow'Overall, this book is refreshing and excellent, making it easy to recommend. It renders visible and accessible to a wider audience things that would be easily recognisable to specialists. For those of us outside of the small circles of the Scottish and British insider political classes, looking in from diverse standpoints, I want to break free clearly explains what is possible and, in general terms, how. It doesn’t play down how hard it is, and it doesn’t dumb down nor back down from the difficult issues. In thinking about ‘the now’ and the ‘not yet’ in Scotland, such a pragmatic contribution is very welcome.'Hannah Graham, Bella Caledonia'How does a would-be nation become a legitimate, internationally recognized state? This short, accessible book is framed as a step-by-step guide to nation-building. In it, Matt Qvortrup paints secessionism as a very public divorce; or, at least, a trial separation.'Kerryn Baker, Australian National University -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 A brief history of self-determination and the making of new states2 Start me up: how to establish a movement and win support3 What’s law got to do with it? The legal side of creating a new state4 The power and the passion: the international politics of creating a new state5 Constitution building: rebuilding the ship at sea6 Shake your money maker: the economics of becoming a new countryConclusions: bringing it all back homeIndex

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Book SynopsisIn a series of 50 accessible essays, Adam Fleming introduces and explains the history, key ideas and tools of democracy developed by some of the world's greatest thinkers - spanning from the ancient Greeks to the present day.From the right to vote to the monarchy, viral politics to Brexit, 50 Democracy Ideas You Really Need to Know is a complete introduction to the most important democracy ideas throughout history.

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Book SynopsisNo one saw it coming. No pundit, no pollster and no political leader predicted David Cameron’s Conservative Party would win a majority of seats in Parliament and his three main opponents would resign as party leaders. The consequences of the coalition also became clear as the Liberal Democrats fell dramatically from grace, and lost their spot as Britain’s third party. And despite Scotland voting ‘NO’ to independence in 2014, the election result also threatens the Union, with the Scottish National Party winning all but three of the country’s seats. In this timely edition, Richard S. Grayson analyses Britain’s changing political landscape, and explores the role of the media, the European Union and the UK’s ‘special relationship’ with the US. Thorough and incisive, British Politics: A Beginner’s Guide is the perfect introduction to the structure, parties and personalities of British Government today.Trade Review‘Fresh and accessible. Grayson manages to convey with clarity some of the vital issues and writes with one eye on the current mood of cynicism about politics and politicians. An excellent starting-point.’ * Professor Michael Kenny – Director of the Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London *‘Combines personal insights with historical and academic context to map out why we should all care about British politics.’ * Mark Bennister – Teaching Fellow in British Politics, University College London *‘A highly readable and informative introduction to British politics since 1945.’ * James Panton – former Lecturer in Politics, St John’s College, University of Oxford *

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Book SynopsisFollowing in the footsteps of the highly successful Queer: A Graphic History, illustrator Jules Scheele teams up with Dr Laura Locker in this comic-book introduction to the political history of the Land of Opportunity.How dida political outsider like Trump win the 2016 presidential election? Why do someAmericans feel so strongly about gun rights? Is there a role for more than twopolitical parties in the system?Politicsisn't something that just occurs in the West Wing or the gleaming Capitolbuilding - it comes from the interaction between state and society, theAmerican people living their daily lives. In this unique graphic guide, wefollow modern citizens as they explore everything from the United States'political culture, the Constitution and the balance of power, to socialmovements, the role of the media, and tensions over race, immigration, and LGBTrights.Stepright up, and see what lies beneath the pageantry and headlines of this greatnation.Trade ReviewUpbeat and optimistic, it reminds us that one awful president can't sink history's most powerful democracy.' * The Bookseller *

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Book Synopsis'The Singularity' is what Silicon Valley calls the idea that, eventually, we will be overrun by machines that are able to take decisions and act for themselves. What no one says is that it happened before. A few hundred years ago, humans started building the robots that now rule our world. They are called states and corporations: immensely powerful artificial entities, with capacities that go far beyond what any individual can do, and which, unlike us, need never die. They have made us richer, safer and healthier than would have seemed possible even a few generations ago - and they may yet destroy us. The Handover distils over three hundred years of thinking about how to live with artificial agency.Trade ReviewPersuasive ... the ever-erudite host of the terrific Talking Politics podcast ... ranges far and wide, from hunter gatherers to Elon Musk, from the wisdom of juries to the (terrifying) implications of autonomous weapons systems -- Tim Adams * Guardian *Runciman's erudition is formidable ... a wide-ranging history of the modern state and an exploration of how AI technology may change the world [from] one of our leading public intellectuals -- Jason Cowley * Sunday Times *Compelling ... David Runciman makes salutary arguments [about] the most urgent problem we face -- Blake Smith * Literary Review *Quirky, meditational, disturbing ... original thinking -- Sherelle Jacobs * Telegraph *Praise for David Runciman: 'A clear and forceful writer * Financial Times *Runciman's flair for turning a pithy and pungent phrase is one of the things to admire about his writing ... That and [his] cogency, subtlety and style * Observer *Refreshingly free of received and rehearsed wisdoms, Runciman doesn't tiptoe around sacred cows and invites us to take part in that most adult way of thinking: to examine contradictory ideas in tandem and ponder what the dissonance amounts to * Australian *

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Book SynopsisA glimpse behind the scenes of China’s publicity modus operandi courtesy of one of its seasoned officials Embark on an intriguing journey of discovery into how high-level Chinese party and government officials engage with the media. Packed with anecdotes, no detail is too small to escape the author’s notice, from dressing to impress to addressing North Korea’s nuclear aspirations, disputed islands in the South China Sea and UK demonstrations against the Beijing Olympics. This book lifts the veil on the behind-the-scenes dynamics of this hitherto opaque world of high-level PRC press conferences. Join Fu Ying at the National People’s Congresses as she adroitly prepares for and navigates tough questions, addresses sensitive issues, and tactfully and cheerfully counters perceived biases. Travel with her to the UK where, as PRC ambassador, she works to bridge cultural divides and challenge misconceptions about China while simultaneously embracing aspects of UK press culture she can learn from, such as world-class training on how to handle the media.Trade ReviewMadam Fu Ying is a rare specimen in the ranks of Chinese diplomacy. - Lionel Barber, Financial TimesTable of Contents* Contents * Dedication * Preface to the English Edition – Fu Ying * Introduction – Stephen Perry * Foreword * I. The NPC Press Conference 2017 * 1\. Walking into the press conference * Continuous preparation until the last minute * Last-minute preparation * 11:00am, 4 March 2017 * Witnessing the dawn of the Chinese Civil Code * My understanding of the civil code * My transformation from a diplomat to a lawmaker * Smog is a \"must-answer\" question * Some thoughts on environmental protection * 2\. The National Defence Budget, Personal Information Protection and Anti-Corruption * Has China caused any war or chaos in the world? * Should I give the defence budget data early to the journalists? * That question on the 2017 national defence budget * China’s national defence spending * A look at the “China Threat Theory” * Personal information of citizens is protected by law * Simplifying the complex * Responding to economic concerns * Nothing off limits for anti-corruption * Rule of law and system construction * The role of the people’s congresses in anti-corruption and anti-corruption in the people’s congresses * 3\. The Protection of Women and Children and China’s International Role * Brilliant ideal and harsh reality * Witnessing introduction of the Anti-Domestic Violence Law * Pay attention to issues of “left-behind children” * What role will China play in the world? * China and India are not enemies * Befriending foreign journalists * Answering challenging questions * Introducing the NPC system * “Rebuff” was not my intention * II. Stories Behind the Press Conferences * 4\. Working for “the Two Sessions” * Annual preparation period * Starting from the internal information: office symposiums * The media speaks for the people: Symposiums with the media * Messages from the frontline: talking with the ministries and commissions * Tell the Chinese story: Host briefings for foreign media * 5\. \"Forged\" into a News Spokesperson * My first experience with a press conference * It’s not just me — It’s a team * Finding out people\'s questions * Determining our position and perspective * A press conference is the art of “listening” * Practice, practice, and more practice * Appearance is another form of expression * III. Stories Outside the News Conference * 6\. Friendly and Fiery Moments at International Forums * China needs more representation at international forums * My first encounter with the MSC * Who is “controlling” North Korea? * Debate and argument * My experience with the Valdai Discussion Club * Valdai 2016 * Valdai 2017 * Russia’s “Valdai Experience” * 7\. Recalling My Time Spent in the UK * Arriving in the UK * Public opinion shock following the “3·14” unrest in Tibet * “Progressing fantastically yet communicating badly” * Strict teachers * My maiden appearance on BBC Breakfast * The 2008 Beijing Olympic flame arrives in the UK * The rocky torch relay * Ambassador as a torchbearer * My article in The Sunday Telegraph * Face-to-face with veteran journalist Jon Snow * A debate with Lionel Barber * My Pre-G20 London Summit interview * Transferring my London experience to Beijing * Afterword

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Book Synopsis''Essential reading ... An incisive and urgently needed book'' Tim Harford''[An] entertaining introduction to the uses (and misuses) of data ... a penetrating analysis of why statistical literacy matters to our politics and our daily lives'' Professor Jonathan Portes Our politicians make vital decisions and declarations every day that rely on official data. But should all statistics be trusted?In BAD DATA, House of Commons Library statistician Georgina Sturge draws back the curtain on how governments of the past and present have been led astray by figures littered with inconsistency, guesswork and uncertainty.Discover how a Hungarian businessman''s bright idea caused half a million people to go missing from UK migration statistics. Find out why it''s possible for two politicians to disagree over whether poverty has gone up or down, using the same official numbers, and for both to be right at the same time. And hear about how pTrade ReviewEssential reading for anyone who's ever wondered where all those numbers come from. Even more essential reading for anyone who hasn't. An incisive and urgently needed book -- Tim Harford, bestselling author of HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD ADD UP and presenter of BBC Radio 4's More or LessA tour de force ... To study BAD DATA is to discover the extreme limits to official knowledge -- Xand van Tulleken * TLS *Sturge is very effective at explaining, with human examples, how bad data affects lives. Readers of Hannah Fry's HELLO WORLD or Caroline Criado Perez's INVISIBLE WOMEN will be familiar with the notion that biased humans create biased artificial intelligence programmes. Here, we see their direct effects. ... [BAD DATA] is so good at inspiring curiosity and the inclination to challenge -- Katy Guest * Guardian *A whistle-stop tour of all the ways the data that forms the basis of policymaking can fall short -- Rachel Cunliffe * New Statesman *[An] excellent book ... there's something here for everyone who wants to better understand the limits of our knowledge about the country ... informative and at times amusing -- Simon Briscoe * TLS *Bracing ... the story of how often things go wrong in the political use of statistics -- John Lanchester * London Review of Books *This informative, reasoned, and apolitical book offers a string of examples to show that statistics are not always what they seem -- Christopher Snowdon * Quillette *The plural of anecdote is not data. But Georgina Sturge's entertaining introduction to the uses (and misuses) of data in public policy and debate combines numerous stories, some amusing, some disturbing, with a penetrating analysis of why statistical literacy matters to our politics and our daily lives -- Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is a bracing, erudite, and compelling account of the moral, political, and structural features of Islamic governance and the modern state, as well as of the multiple incongruities that hamper any attempt to establish one in terms of the other. Wael Hallaq delivers a welcome rejoinder to much of the dogmatic bluster swirling around the subject of shari'a and the Islamic state. At the same time, he brings into sharp focus the often overlooked resources for reconceptualizing 'the modern project' from within both Islamic and Euro-American traditions of moral and political thought. The historical, theoretical, and political richness of this account makes The Impossible State a new standard against which any claims about the possibility of establishing Islamic governance in the contemporary world must now be evaluated. -- Roxanne L. Euben, Wellesley College A provocative and wide-ranging rumination by one of the leading scholars of Islamic law, this book poses tough questions to champions and critics of shari'a alike. Wael Hallaq makes a powerful argument for the relevance of shari'a as a moral discourse while remaining critical of its compatibility with the modern state. The Impossible State is bound to elicit debate among scholars of Islam, moral philosophy, and modernity across the Western and non-Western divide. -- Saba Mahmood, author of Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject It is an important contribution to understanding the role and potential of the shari'a in the modern world. -- Mark D. Welton Middle East Journal A philosophical and rhetorical tour de force. Choice A refreshing take on the modern state and Islamic governance. Middle East Media and Book Reviews This book brings a detailed and impassioned exploration of key debates in Islamic law and governance into sustained conversation with canonical texts in Western political and legal theory... The Impossible State makes an important theoretical contribution. -- Iza Hussin Perspectives on Politics An important, bold, and courageous intervention that stands out not just in contemporary debates on the Shari'ah in the West and the Muslim world, but in all modern writing about the subject. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Wael Hallaq skillfully navigates through the dominant philosophical and sociological arguments... The book is a must read for anyone even remotely dealing with conceptualisations of modernity, the state and Islamic governance. Political Studies Review An important book by a well recognized scholar on an extremely important and difficult topic. Religious Studies Review In the light of the ongoing events in the Arab world today... it is difficult to imagine a more relevant and timely contribution. Islam and Christian-Muslim RelationsTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Premises 2. The Modern State 3. Separation of Powers: Rule of Law or Rule of the State? 4. The Legal 5. The Political Subject and Moral Technologies of the Self 6. Beleaguering Globalization and Moral Economy 7. The Central Domain of the Moral Notes Glossary of Key Terms Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDrawing on the rich resources of the ten-volume series of The Oxford Handbooks of Political Science, this one-volume distillation provides a comprehensive overview of all the main branches of contemporary political science: political theory; political institutions; political behavior; comparative politics; international relations; political economy; law and politics; public policy; contextual political analysis; and political methodology. Sixty-seven of the top political scientists worldwide survey recent developments in those fields and provide penetrating introductions to exciting new fields of study. Following in the footsteps of the New Handbook of Political Science edited by Robert Goodin and Hans-Dieter Klingemann a decade before, this Oxford Handbook will become an indispensable guide to the scope and methods of political science as a whole. It will serve as the reference book of record for political scientists and for those following their workTrade ReviewReview from previous edition Robert Goodin has put together a superb volume: truly a collection of the very best from the already outstanding chapters in the original ten volumes. The authors -- the most prominent and authoritative experts from all over the world -- provide not only a comprehensive and systematic assessment of what political science has already accomplished but also a guide to where the discipline should be heading in the future. Political scientists in all fields will welcome this immensely valuable effort. * Arend Lijphart, Research Professor Emeritus of Political Science Department of Political Science, University of California, San Diego *A concise and solid introduction to political science and its ten sub-disciplines. The assembly of scholars from leading US, European, and Australian universities and research centres provides the reader with diverse perspectives and awareness of current scholarship. Entries are heavily cited and provide a concise roadmap of key scholars, theories, and current developments within each area...Highly recommended * CHOICE *Anyone who wants to know the state of the art in political science and where the discipline is headed, but only consult one volume, need go no further than these authoritative essays by first rate contributors * Carole Pateman, Research Professor School of European Studies, Cardiff University *Table of ContentsPART 1 INTRODUCTION; PART II POLITICAL THEORY; PART III POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS; PART IV LAW & POLITICS; PART V POLITICAL BEHAVIOR; PART VI CONTEXTUAL POLITICAL ANALYSIS; PART VII COMPARATIVE POLITICS; PART VIII INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PART IX POLITICAL ECONOMY; PART X PUBLIC POLICY; PART XI POLITICAL METHODOLOGY

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Book SynopsisAmong the great hidden narratives of twentieth-century history are the movements in Europe which, between the two world wars, aimed to restore the royal and imperial houses forced out of power in 1918 (or, in Portugal's case, eight years earlier). These efforts acquired media coverage and, often, strategic importance far greater than would be nowsupposed from the cursory, often dismissive, treatment which they have received from mosthistorians since. Campaigns to reinstate such dynasties as the Hohenzollerns, the Habsburgs, theWittelsbachs, the Braganças, and even France's House of Orléans, were taken seriously atthe highest governmental and journalistic levels in London and Paris, not to mention the HolySee. Upon the whole phenomenon, this book seeks to shed light. It discusses both thephenomenon's soft power' manifestations (the designs of newspaper tycoon LordRothermere upon the Hungarian throne for his son, for instance) and the phenomenon'shard power' manifestations, among which

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Book SynopsisWhy has Libya fallen apart since 2011? The world has largely given up trying to understand how the revolution that toppled Muammar Gaddafi has left the country a failed state and a major security headache for Europe. Gaddafi's police state has been replaced by yet another dictatorship, amidst a complex conflict of myriad armed groups, Islamists, tribes, towns and secularists. What happened? One of few foreign journalists to have lived in post-revolution Tripoli, Ulf Laessing has unique insight into the violent nature of post-Gaddafi politics. Confronting threats from media-hostile militias and jihadi kidnappings, in a world where diplomats retreat to their compounds and guns are drawn at government press conferences, Laessing has kept his ear to the ground and won the trust of many key players. Understanding Libya Since Gaddafi is an original blend of personal anecdote and nuanced Libyan history. It offers a much-needed diagnosis of why war has erupted over a desert nation of just 6 million, and of how the country blessed with Africa's greatest energy reserves has been reduced to state collapse.Trade Review'A cautionary tale of how the cement applied by dictatorship can, once broken, yield chaos. ... Laessing’s is a tale of many villains, from feuding fighters to meddling outside powers who have turned the renewed civil war into a proxy international conflict.' * Financial Times *‘What makes this book interesting is the fact that the author’s analysis is interlaced with his personal experience of reporting from the country. We get a taste of the country that rarely comes across in standard news reports.’ -- Middle East Monitor'Well written and comprehensible even for those unfamiliar with Libya, a very complex country.' -- The Maghreb Review'This frank, fascinating account highlights the difficulties and dangers of press reporting from post-Gadafi Libya. It reveals how and why political, economic and social anarchy dominates a country where rival armed militias are "still the true rulers".' -- John Wright, former chief political commentator and analyst of the BBC Arabic Service, and author of 'A History of Libya' and 'Libya, Chad and the Central Sahara''Ulf Laessing is widely recognised as one of the most astute observers of post-Gaddafi Libya. He has traveled throughout the country, reporting in dangerous conditions. A must-read, this volume offers an informed, objective, and balanced account of Libya's current travails.' -- Ronald Bruce St John, author of 'Libya: From Colony to Revolution' and 'Libya: Continuity and Change''Laessing's book is a fascinating account of the chaos in Libya following Gaddafi's overthrow. It is a necessary book for all those who seek to understand Libya today.' -- Luis Martinez, author of 'The Libyan Paradox''Ulf Laessing blends analysis and on the ground observation to produce an outstanding account of why Libya remains mired in chaos today--his book will undoubtedly remain the go-to in order to understand Libya's enduring problems and complexities.' -- Dirk Vandewalle, Associate Professor of Government, Dartmouth College, and author of 'A History of Modern Libya''Ulf Laessing's new book, Understanding Libya Since Gaddafi is an excellent exposition of the reasons for the continuing conflict in Libya since the 2011 revolution. It is packed with personal insights and anecdotes from his travel throughout Libya and his meetings with key political. tribal, military and economic players, as well as with ordinary Libyans. It also explains the origins of the tribal and regional divisions within the country and the way power, money and status drive the competing ambitions of the country's leaders. Laessing underlines the need for a genuine national dialogue and shows how outside interference is sustaining a disastrous conflict on Europe's borders. A valuable addition to the compendium of books and studies about this troubled country.' -- Peter Millet, former British ambassador to Libya'Ulf Laessing delivers a highly readable book-- richer and better thought-out than just another reporter's travelogue. Over the better part of the last decade, the Reuters veteran has frequently travelled both sides of the troubled nation's main fault-line, a truly rare feat. Both in Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, Laessing spent long periods of time witnessing events historic and mundane alike. The net result is a first-hand account nobody interested in post-2011 Libya can afford to skip.' -- Jalel Harchaoui, research fellow and Libya specialist at the Clingendael Institute, The Hague'Laessing's insights into the disruptive militias are uniquely vivid and insightful. He captured wonderfully well the "fluid, transactional and opportunistic" aspects of post-Qaddafi Libya, the fragmentation and networks that made (and continue to make) it so challenging and difficult to arrive at durable agreements and roadmaps for progress.' -- Deborah K Jones, former US ambassador to Libya.

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