Politics and government Books
£12.34
Daraja Press Homestead, Homeland, Home
Book Synopsis
£16.19
Springer Nature Switzerland AG American Ambassadors: A Guide for Aspiring
Book SynopsisIf you ever wondered who becomes an American ambassador and why, this is the book for you. It describes how Foreign Service officers become ambassadors by rising up through the ranks, and why they typically make up about 70 percent of the total number of ambassadors. It also covers where the other 30 percent come from—the political appointees who get the job because they helped elect the president by supporting him as a campaign contributor, a political ally, or a personal friend. It explains why, despite being illegal and a threat to national security, selling the title of ambassador remains a common practice that is also unique to the United States. It considers why some suggestions for reform are misguided, what might be done, and why who the president is matters so much in determining how well the United States will be represented abroad. This updated and revised edition of Jett's classic book not only provides a timely overview of American ambassadorship for Foreign Service Officers, aspiring diplomats, and interested citizens, but also calls for much-needed reform, describing the dire implications of failing to change our ambassadorial appointments process for the future of American diplomatic practice and foreign policy.Table of ContentsFOREWORDINTRODUCTIONA BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TITLEWHO GETS TO BE AN AMBASSADOR: THE TRADITIONAL ROUTEWHO GETS TO BE AN AMBASSADOR: THE NONTRADITIONAL ROUTETHE LAST STEPS: CLEARANCE AND CONFIRMATIONWHAT AN AMBASSADOR DOESWHERE AN AMBASSADOR GOESWHY IT MATTERS AND HOW IT MIGHT BE CHANGED
£18.74
Springer International Publishing AG Unlocking PhD Success: How to Acquire Crucial PhD
Book SynopsisAre you a current or aspiring Ph.D. student determined to overcome the challenges that lie ahead? Do not let statistics discourage you, because this comprehensive guide is here to help you defy the odds and reach the pinnacle of academic achievement. With failure rates hovering between 40% and 50%, it is crucial to equip yourself with the right skills to ensure your success. In this book, you will embark on a transformative journey toward becoming a confident and accomplished scholar. This book takes a meticulous approach, addressing the six essential skills every Ph.D. student must possess: research, writing, presentation, time management, persistence, and collaboration. Each chapter delves into the significance of these skills within the Ph.D. process, explores the necessary competences, and provides practical strategies for their acquisition. Armed with numerous tips, tricks, and actionable advice, this invaluable resource empowers you to optimize your performance throughout your Ph.D. journey. Within these pages, you will discover how to assess your current skill set, identify areas for improvement, and develop a personalized academic development plan. With the aid of many informative figures and tables, you will find quick and easy access to expert guidance. Do not let uncertainty and self-doubt hinder your progress. “Unlocking PhD Success” is your roadmap to triumph, supporting you every step of the way as you conquer the challenges of doctoral studies. Embrace this book as your trusted companion, and unlock your full potential as an exceptional Ph.D. candidate.Table of ContentsAcademic Talent Development.- Research Skills.- Collaboration Skills.- Writing Skills.- Presentation Skills.- Time Management Skills.- Persistence Skills.- Making It Work.
£18.74
Springer The United States and the Future of Europe
Book SynopsisChapter 1. Austria.- Chapter 2. Belgium.- Chapter 3. Bulgaria.- Chapter 4. Croatia.- Chapter 5. Cyprus.- Chapter 6. Czechia.- Chapter 7. Denmark.- Chapter 8. Estonia.- Chapter 9. Finland.- Chapter 10. France.- Chapter 11. Germany.- Chapter 12. Greece.-Chapter 13. Hungary.- Chapter 14. Ireland.- Chapter 15. Italy.- Chapter 16. Latvia.- Chapter 17. Lithuania.- Chapter 18. Luxembourg.- Chapter 19. Malta.- Chapter 20. Poland.- Chapter 21. Portugal.- Chapter 22. Romania.- Chapter 23. Slovakia.- Chapter 24. Slovenia.- Chapter 25. Spain.- Chapter 26. Sweden.- Chapter 27. Netherlands.- Chapter 28. Albania.- Chapter 29. Bosnia.- Chapter 30. Georgia.- Chapter 31. Iceland.- Chapter 32. Kosovo.- Chapter 33. Liechtenstein.- Chapter 34. Moldova.- Chapter 35. Montenegro.- Chapter 36. North Macedonia.- Chapter 37. Norway.- Chapter 38. Serbia.- Chapter 39. Switzerland.- Chapter 40. Türkiye.- Chapter 41. Ukraine.- Chapter 42. United Kingdom.
£26.59
Springer International Publishing AG Authoritarianism and Resistance in Turkey:
Book SynopsisThis book offers an in-depth overview of Turkish history and politics essential for understanding contemporary Turkey. It presents an analysis on a number of key issues from gender inequality to Islamism to urban regeneration. Based on interviews with leading intellectuals and academics from Turkey, the book’s theme follows the dramatic transformations that have occurred from the 1980 military coup to the coup attempt of 2016 and its aftermath. It further draws attention to the global flows of capital, goods, ideas, and technologies that continue to influence both mainstream and dissident politics. By doing so, the book tries to unsettle the assumption that Erdoğan and his Islamic ideology are the sole actors in contemporary Turkey. This book provides unusual insight into the Turkish society bringing various topics together, and increases the dialogue for people interested in democratic struggles in 21st century under neoliberal authoritarian regimes in general.Trade Review“This volume is impressive in many ways, especially for the caliber of interviewees, many of whom are currently incarcerated for their views. The high quality of most of these interviews is also to be commended. While I am not sure that all of the interviews or sections talk to each other - with the volume possibly addressing too many different aspects at once -, they undoubtedly remain a very interesting read.” (Balki Begumhan Bayhan, Interdisciplinary Political Studies, Vol. 6 (2), 2020)Table of ContentsI- Introduction by Esra Ozyurek II- An Overview of History 1- Kemalism and the CHP – Baskın Oran and Karabekir Akkoyunlu 2- September 12, 1980 coup detat – Ertugrul Mavioğlu and Eylem Delikanlı 3- History of social movements – Sungur Savran and Erol Ülker III- Politics and Economics 4- Economy – Ahmet Tonak and Ümit Akçay 5- Neoliberalism – Asli Iğsız and Elif Sarı 6- Urban regeneration – Mücella Yapıcı and Esin Ileri IV- Political Islam and the AKP 7- AKP government – Yuksel Taşkin and Burak Cop 8- The Gülen Community – Ahmet Sık and Deniz akirer V- Social Movements 9- Gezi revolts – Dogan Cetinkaya and Bilge Seckin Cetinkaya 10- Feminism – Aksu Bora and Nil Uzun 11- LGBT movement – Evren Savci and Sebnem Kenis 12- Working class struggles – Aziz Celik and Emrah Altindis 13- Environmentalism – Bulent Sik and Cana Ulutas VI- Minorities and Conflicts 14- Kurdish Question – Nazan Üstündag and Güney Yıldız 15- Armenian Genocide – Lerna Ekmekcioğlu and Seda Altuğ 16- Alevi Struggles – Besim Can Zirh and Murat Es VII- Human Rights 17- Human Rights – Sebnem Korur Fincanci and Aylin Tekiner 18- Freedom of Speech – Fikret Ilkiz and Defne Över 19- Public violence – Tanil Bora and Deniz Yonucu VIII- Culture and Psychology 20- Turkish Literature – Jale Parla, Mehmet Fatih Uslu, and Özge Ertem 21- Mental health – Cem Kaptanoğlu and Bilal Ersoy 22- Turkish Cinema – Deniz Morva Kaplamaci and Kıvanc Sezer Biographies of editors Biographies of contributors References
£59.25
Foreign Languages Press Xi Jinping: The Governance of China II
Book Synopsis
£18.86
Foreign Languages Press Xi Jinping: The Governance of China III
Book Synopsis
£12.95
Foreign Languages Press Xi Jinping: The Governance of China IV
Book Synopsis
£18.86
Cypress Book Co. UK Ltd Xi Jinping The Governance of China V
Book Synopsis
£15.15
Pan Macmillan India Descent into Paradise
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£20.39
Taylor & Francis Ltd Public Management and Governance
Book SynopsisPublic Management and Governance is the leading text in international public management and governance and an ideal introduction to all aspects of this field. It combines rigorous insight from pre-eminent scholars around the world with a clear structure and supportive, thoughtful, and intuitive pedagogy. This revised and updated fourth edition responds to the significant changes in the external environment, as well as the field itself. It includes six new chapters covering aspects of increasing importance: Public management and governance developments in non-OECD countries Risk and resilience Innovation in public management and governance Digital public management Digital public governance Behavioural approaches to public policy Throughout the new edition, there is a wealth of new content on emergent topics such as collaborative leadership, diversity and inclusion, complexity theory and evidence-informed policy.Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTSNotes on contributors ForewordPart I From Public Management to Governance Understanding public management and governance Tony Bovaird and Elke Loeffler The changing context of public policy: local, national and international trendsTony Bovaird and Elke Loeffler The changing role of public spending Peter M. Jackson Public sector reforms across OECD countriesEdwin Lau and Nick Manning Public management and governance developments in non-OECD countriesGeorge Larbi Behavioural approaches to public management and governance Janne Kalucza and Caroline Fischer Part II Public Management Strategic management and marketing in public service organizations Tony Bovaird Contracting and partnering for public servicesCarsten Greve and Andrew Erridge Conceptual revolutions in public financial managementJim Chan and M.A. Zhiming Human resource management in public service organisationsAdrian Ritz and Eva Knies Public services and management in the digital ageVeiko Lember and Joep Crompvoets Performance measurement and management in public sector organizationsGeert Bouckaert and Wouter van Dooren Process and quality management in public service organizations Kuno Schedler and Utz Helmuth Regulatory inspection and public auditSlobodan Tomic Part III Public Governance Public governance for public valueElke Loeffler Partnership working across public and private sectorsTony Bovaird and Erik-Hans Klijn Management at ‘arm’s length’: executive agencies and public bodiesSandra van Thiel Managing ‘wicked problems’ through complex adaptive governance networksChris Koliba and Joop Koppenjan Innovation in public governance and management Jacob Torfing E-governance: concept, practice and ethicsArman Behrooz and Albert Meijer Understanding public leadership Jean Hartley Citizen engagementElke Loeffler and Steve Martin Co-production of public services and outcomesElke Loeffler Managing risk and resilience in the public domain Tony Bovaird and Elke Loeffler Transparency in governmentAlisdair Roberts Changing equalities: politics, policies and practice Rachel Ashworth Ethical considerations in the public sector: What is acceptable behaviour?Howard Davis, Suzanne Piotrowski and Lois Warner Evidence-informed policy and practiceAnnette Boaz and Sandra Nutley Part IV … and finally Public management and governance: the future?Tony Bovaird and Elke Loeffler Index
£34.49
Little, Brown Book Group When I Die
Book SynopsisOn 29 January 2008 Philip Gould was told he had cancer. He was stoical, and set about his treatment, determined to fight his illness. In the face of difficult decisions he sought always to understand the disease and the various medical options open to him, supported by his wife Gail and their two daughters, Georgia and Grace.In 2010, after two hard years of chemotherapy and surgery, the tests came up clear - Philip appeared to have won the battle. But his work as a key strategist for the Labour party took its toll, and feeling ill six months later, he insisted on one extra, precautionary test, which told him that the cancer had returned. Thus began Philip''s long, painful but ultimately optimistic journey towards death, during which time he began to appreciate and make sense of his life, his work and his relationships in a way he had never thought possible. He realized something that he had never heard articulated before: death need not be only negative or painful, it can be
£10.44
John Wiley & Sons Inc U.S. Citizenship For Dummies
Book SynopsisBecome a U.S. immigration wiz with this hands-on and practical guide to U.S. citizenship In U.S. Citizenship For Dummies, expert citizenship and ESL instructor Jennifer Gagliardi walks you through the ins and outs of the complicated process of obtaining citizenship in the United States. From preparing for test day to understanding the interview process and learning about recent changes to immigration laws, this book demystifies the legal process of transforming a foreign national into a citizen of the U.S. In this book, you'll get: Up-to-date info on the various application and immigration forms you'll need to complete to become a citizen Needed preparation for the all-important interview Complete coverage of the different visas and green cards available to foreign nationals and how you can qualify for them Whether you're an immigrant-to-be who's interested in becoming an American citizen, or you're already a cTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 3 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 4 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Pursuing Immigration and Citizenship 5 Chapter 1: The Joys of Becoming a U.S. Citizen 7 Determining Whether You Really Want to Become a U.S. Citizen 7 What you lose 8 What you gain 8 Your rights and responsibilities as a U.S. citizen 9 Mapping Your Way to America: Typical Ways People Immigrate to the U.S. 10 Reuniting with your family 12 Pursuing employment opportunities 13 Winning the visa lottery 16 Documenting Your Immigration Status 17 Just visiting 17 Here to stay 19 Joining the club: Naturalization 20 Making Sense of the Immigration Process 22 Doing the paperwork 22 Proving your identity 22 Being Interviewed by the USCIS 23 Interviewing for a green card 24 Obtaining U.S. citizenship 26 Recognizing Permanent and Temporary Bars to Naturalization 27 Attending Your Swearing-In Ceremony 29 Receiving your Certificate of Naturalization 30 Chapter 2: Meeting the Officials Who Can Help You on Your Quest 33 Understanding the Goals of the U.S. Immigration System 33 Identifying the Major Players and Their Roles in the Immigration System 34 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 35 US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 37 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 37 The Department of State 38 State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs 38 State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration 40 The Department of Labor (DOL) 41 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 41 Chapter 3: Finding Out about Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas 43 Just Visiting: Nonimmigrant Visas 44 Determining whether you need a visa 44 Discovering the common types of nonimmigrant visas 45 Changing or adjusting your nonimmigrant status 46 Gaining Permanent Resident Status (or a Green Card) 49 Understanding the family preference categories 49 Marrying your way to permanent residence 49 Using family connections 53 Identifying exceptions to the sponsorship requirements 55 Working for a Green Card 56 Making sense of employment preference categories 57 Discovering Other Ways to Qualify for Permanent Residence 63 Immigrating through asylum 63 Looking for safe refuge 64 Investing in the United States 65 Winning the green-card lottery 69 Waiting for a Visa 70 Chapter 4: Filling Out the Forms 71 Understanding the Process of Becoming a U.S. Citizen 71 Step 1: Are you already a U.S. citizen? 72 Step 2: Are you eligible to become a U.S. citizen? 72 Step 3: Prepare your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization 72 Step 4: Submit your Form N-400 and pay your fees 73 Step 5: Go to your biometrics appointment, if applicable 74 Step 6: Complete the interview 75 Step 7: Receive a decision from USCIS on your Form N-400 75 Step 8: Receive a notice to take the Oath of Allegiance 76 Step 9: Take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States 76 Step 10: Understanding US citizenship 77 Using USCIS Tools and Forms 77 Your citizenship tool belt 78 Creating a USCIS online account 79 Applying for Citizenship: Form N-400 81 Some helpful info before you begin 81 N-400 Parts 1 to 11: Personal Information 82 N-400 Part 12: Additional Information 87 N-400 Parts 13–18: Signatures 88 Other Common Forms 90 Submitting Your Application 93 Organizing your files 96 After you file 96 Part 2: Doing the Interview, Getting Help, And Following the Rules 97 Chapter 5: Acing Your Naturalization Interview 99 Who Needs to Interview with the USCIS? 99 Age exemptions 100 Disability exemptions 101 Passing Your Naturalization Interview 101 Arriving prepared 102 Giving yourself the best chance for success 103 Practicing for the Big Three: Reading, writing, and speaking English 104 Getting ready for the interview 106 A typical citizenship interview 107 Studying for the civics test 110 Helping your family prepare for their interview 110 Communicating with the USCIS 112 Following Up: What Happens After the Interview 113 Taking the Oath of Allegiance 113 Taking care of a few more important tasks 115 Chapter 6: Keeping on Top of Changes in Immigration Law 117 Understanding the Post-9/11 Changes to the Immigration System 118 Overhauling Immigration Laws in 1990 119 Understanding the Significance of the 1996 Immigration Law Changes 120 Getting tougher on crime 120 Updates to USCIS Form N-400, Application for Naturalization 121 Proving you won’t be a burden to the system 122 Protecting America’s borders 123 Recognizing Helpful Immigration Law Changes 123 Staying Abreast of Changes in Immigration Law 125 Chapter 7: Getting Help When You Need It 127 Recognizing When You Need Professional Help 127 Seeking Professional Help 129 Knowing the warning signs to watch out for 129 Consulting an immigration attorney 130 Reaching for a helping hand: Nonprofit immigration organizations 131 Taking advantage of free immigration help from the government 133 Taking citizenship test-prep classes 133 Chapter 8: Troubleshooting Immigration Glitches 135 Communicating with the USCIS 135 Registering changes 137 Changing appointments 138 Filing a complaint 138 Dealing with Rejection and Appealing USCIS Decisions 139 Naturalization rejections 139 Demonstrating Good Moral Character 141 Avoiding Removal 143 Understanding the reasons for removal 143 Appealing removal decisions 144 Part 3: Exploring U.S History, Government, and Culture 145 Chapter 9: U.S. History in a Nutshell, Part I: Pre-US to World War I 147 Before We Were the United States 148 Native Americans 148 Migrating to the New World 148 Finding out about the American colonies 149 Recognizing the “lucky thirteen” 151 Forming a New Country 151 Understanding the events leading to the Revolutionary War 151 Resisting tyranny: The colonists unite and fight 152 Declaring independence from England 153 Establishing the new nation 154 Growing a nation 156 Warring after the Revolution 159 Expanding the Country’s Borders 160 Engaging in Civil War 163 Before the Civil War: Contributing factors and compromises 163 The strengths of the North and South 165 The war between the states 166 Reconstruction after the Civil War 167 Entering the Industrial Revolution 168 The importance of immigrants to a growing nation 168 The rise of labor unions 170 Chapter 10: U.S. History in a Nutshell, Part II: World War I to the Present 173 The World War I Years 174 The causes behind World War I (The Great War) 174 US participation in the Great War 175 The Treaty of Versailles 176 Surviving the Great Depression 178 The World War II Years 180 Choosing sides: The Axis and the Allies 181 The United States under attack: Pearl Harbor 182 “relocating” Citizens: Japanese Internment in World War Ii 183 Fighting Germany and Japan 184 The effects of World War II 186 The Cold War Years 186 Fighting communism: The Cold War between the world’s superpowers 187 Battling communism in Asia: The Korean War 187 The Vietnam War 188 The Civil Rights Movement 190 Understanding the U.S. Today 192 Important recent historical events from the late 1960s to the 1990s 192 Trouble in the Middle East: The Gulf War 194 Historical events of the 21st Century 194 Chapter 11: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution 197 Announcing the Birth of a New Nation: The Declaration of Independence 198 Leading up to the Declaration: The colonists’ complaints 198 What the Declaration says 199 The Supreme Law of the Land: The Constitution 201 What the Constitution says 201 Constitutional articles 203 The Bill of Rights 204 Constitutional amendments 206 Chapter 12: Understanding the United States Federal Government 209 How the U.S. Government Works 210 The Duties and Functions of the Executive Branch 211 The president 211 The vice president 211 The Cabinet and executive departments 212 Independent agencies 213 The Duties and Functions of the Legislative Branch 214 The United States Congress 215 Congressional leadership 215 How laws are passed 216 Congressional committees 217 Meeting your senators 217 Meeting your representatives 218 The Duties of the Judicial Branch 219 The federal court system 220 The ultimate constitutional authority: The Supreme Court 221 Chapter 13: Looking at State and Local Governments 223 Capitals and Capitols 224 State Governments 226 State government structure 227 The responsibilities of state governments 230 Citizens’ responsibilities to their states 231 State constitutions 231 Local Governments 232 Chapter 14: Celebrating US Holidays and Observances 235 Federal Holidays 235 New Year’s Day 236 Martin Luther King Jr Day 237 Presidents’ Day 237 Memorial Day 238 Juneteenth 238 Independence Day 238 Labor Day 239 Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day 239 Veterans’ Day 239 Thanksgiving 240 Christmas 240 Ten More Important Civic Holidays 241 Inauguration Day 241 Census Day 241 Income Tax Day 241 Flag Day 242 Women’s Equality Day 242 State Admissions Day 242 9/11 242 Constitution and Citizenship Week 243 Election Day 243 Bill of Rights Day 243 Heritage Months 243 February: Black History Month 243 March: Women’s History Month 244 March: Irish-American Heritage Month 244 April: Arab American Heritage Month 244 May: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 244 May: Jewish American Heritage Month 244 June: Immigrant Heritage Month 245 June: LGBTQI+ Pride Month 245 June: Caribbean American Heritage Month 245 Mid-September to Mid-October: Hispanic Heritage Month 245 October: Filipino American History Month 246 October: German American Heritage Month 246 October: Italian American Heritage Month 246 November: Native American Heritage Month 246 Chapter 15: Emblems of America 247 The Flag: Old Glory 247 The symbolism and significance of the flag 247 Displaying the flag 248 Half-staff rules 250 Caring for the flag: Important etiquette 251 The Pledge of Allegiance 253 The National Anthem 254 Other American Anthems 255 America (My Country, ’Tis of Thee) 255 America the Beautiful 255 God Bless America 256 This Land Is Your Land 256 Lift Every Voice and Sing 256 Investigating American Icons 257 The Great Seal 257 The national bird 258 The national motto 259 American Monuments 259 The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island 259 The Liberty Bell and the President’s House 260 The National Mall 261 Chapter 16: Civic Life 263 The Rights and Duties of Everyone Living in the United States 263 Participating in democracy 264 Volunteering 265 The Rights and Duties of US Citizens 266 Part 4: Practicing for the Citizenship Tests 269 Chapter 17: Preparing for the English Test 271 Building Your Vocabulary 271 Brushing Up on Your Reading and Writing 273 Working through USCIS Form N-400 274 Getting familiar with the N-400 275 Getting off to a good start 276 What, where, and when? 276 Part 12 Additional Information Subsections 277 Part 12 key words and common concepts 278 More Part 12 key words 280 Part 12:45-50: Attachment to the Constitution 281 Understanding Key Words in the Oath of Allegiance 283 Chapter 18: Preparing for the Civics, Reading, and Writing Tests 287 Keeping Current 287 Current events 288 National, state, and local governments 288 Quizzing Yourself on Civics 289 As easy as 1, 2, 3 289 Two quizzes about the three branches 291 The important Americans quiz 293 The citizen responsibilities quiz 295 Preparing for Your USCIS Interview: The 100 Questions! 296 Two quick questions before you begin 296 American Government 297 American History 304 Integrated Civics 307 The Reading and Writing Tests 310 Part 5: The Part of Tens 315 Chapter 19: Ten Tips to Help You Pass Your Naturalization Interview 317 Be On Time 317 Present Yourself Favorably 318 Listen Carefully 318 Answer the Right Questions 319 Know Your Application 319 Be Prepared 319 Know Your Stuff 320 Bring What You Need 320 Be Honest and Honorable 320 Treat Immigration Officers with Respect 321 Chapter 20: Ten Things That Can Hurt Your Naturalization Case 323 Perpetrating Fraud 324 Participating in Subversive Activities 324 Supporting Violence, Terror, and Participating in War Crimes 324 Committing a Crime 324 Doing Drugs 325 Behaving Poorly (Even If You’re Not Breaking a Law) 325 Unlawfully Staying in the United States 325 Failing to Register with the Selective Service (If You’re a Male) 326 Failing to Meet Deadlines 326 Abandoning Your Application 327 Chapter 21: Ten Important American Heroes 329 George Washington 329 Benjamin Franklin 330 Thomas Jefferson 331 James Madison 332 Alexander Hamilton 333 Abraham Lincoln 334 Susan B Anthony 335 Woodrow Wilson 338 Franklin Delano Roosevelt 338 Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower 339 Martin Luther King, Jr 340 Part 6: Appendixes 343 Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence 345 Appendix B: The United States Constitution 349 Appendix C: Document Checklist 363 Index 365
£16.49
Yale University Press Democracy and Its Critics
Book SynopsisWinner of the 1991 Elaine and David Spitz Book Prize for the best book on liberal and/or democratic theory, this book discusses what democracy is and why it is important. It examines basic assumptions of democratic theory and tests them against the questions raised by critics.Trade Review"Like democratic theory itself, Dahl's book is hugely inspiring. . . . this is a hugely impressive book, which traces the assumptions of democratic theory from 5th-century Athens to the present day and beyond. it is remarkable for its sustained attempt to connect theory and practice."—Susan Mendus, The Times Higher Education Supplement"One of the foremost contemporary theorists of pluralist democracy."—Jack Lively, Times Literary Supplement"[This book] could not have come at a more opportune moment. . . . Democracy and Its Critics is a work of extraordinary intelligence and, what is even rarer, a work of extraordinary wisdom. Mr. Dahl writes clearly and effectively. . . . The discussion is fresh and illuminating, the treatment of alternative views careful and respectful, the difficulties in his own views spelled out in detail. An attentive reader of this book will receive a real education in the meaning of democracy. . . . Beneath all the moderation and devotion to intellectual clarity that are so evident in this book, there is the moving presence of a profound passion for democracy."—Robert N. Bellah, New York Times Book Review"America's leading expert on democratic theory delivers his magnum opus."—Philadelphia Inquirer"Like democratic theory itself, Dahl's book is hugely inspiring. . . . This is a hugely impressive book, which traces the assumptions of democratic theory from 5th-century Athens to the present day and beyond. it is remarkable for its sustained attempt to connect theory and practice."—Susan Mendus, The Times Higher Education Supplement"Dahl defends democracy against various criticisms, including anarchism and its tenet that even democracy is coercive. . . . A necessary purchase."—David Steiniche, Library Journal"A necessary purchase for graduate libraries and recommended for undergraduate and public libraries."—Library Journal"Robert Dahl is one of the great communicators. . . . Democracy and its Critics sums up a career of 30 years as the leading American writer on the theory and the practice of democratic government."—Alan Ryan, New Statesman and SocietyWinner of the 1991 Elaine and David Spitz Book Award given by the International Conference for the Study of Political Thought for the best book published on liberal and/or democratic theory Winner of the 1990 Woodrow Wilson Foundation Book Award given by the American Political Science Association for the best book published in the United States during the previous year on government, politics, or international affairs "Robert Dahl is both a subtle analyst and a staunch defender of democratic values. What impresses me most is that he sees democracy not just as something fixed or given, but as a process that needs to be extended into every area of society, the economic as well as the political. His new book continues his splendid work."—Irving Howe"This elegantly written book presents a synthesis of over thirty years of work by America's leading post-war democratic theorist. Dahl's clear, incisive style will appeal to the general reader as well as to specialists in political theory and comparative politics."—Alan Ware, University of WarwickTable of ContentsPart 1 The sources of modern democracy: the first transformation - to the democratic city-state; toward the second transformation - republicanism, representation, and the logic of equality. Part 2 Adversarial critics: anarchism; guardianship; a critique of guardianship. Part 3 A theory of the democratic process: justifications - the idea of equal intrinsic worth; personal autonomy; a theory of the democratic process; the problem of inclusion. Part 4 Problems in the democratic process: majority rule and the democratic process; majority rule - practise; process and substance; process versus process; when is a people entitled to the democratic process? Part 5 The limits and possibilities of democracy: the second democratic transformation - from the city-state to the nation-state; democracy, polyarchy, and participation; how polyarchy developed in some countries and not others; is minority domination inevitable?; pluralism, polyarchy and the common good; common good as process and substance. Part 6 Toward a third transformation: democracy in tomorrow's world; sketches for an advanced democratic country.
£21.38
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC This is Only the Beginning
Book SynopsisMichael Chessum is a journalist and activist. He has written for the Guardian and Observer, the New Statesman, The Independent, Vice, Novara, The London Review of Books and many others. He co-founded the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, playing a prominent role in the student protests of 2010 and the anti-austerity movement that followed. In 2016-17, he was a member of Momentum's first Steering Committee, serving as its Treasurer, and worked as a press officer and speechwriter on Jeremy Corbyn's second leadership campaign. As National Organiser for the left wing anti-Brexit group Another Europe is Possible, he became a dissident within Corbynism and a prominent voice in the public debate on Brexit and migrants' rights.Trade ReviewPacey but sober, witty but often very stark – that nevertheless left me feeling so optimistic. -- Zoe Williams * The Guardian *[Chessum] writes passionately and eloquently. Here he examines how the emergence of Corbynism and its mass mobilisation came about and what we can learn from its rise and demise taking us on a roller-coaster ride through the history of rebellion and opposition during recent decades, both in Britain and abroad, capturing the excitement, the passion and the disappointments … There is too much useful information and too many perceptive insights in this book to detail here. Read it yourself; I highly recommend it. -- John Green * Morning Star *‘If I had to stick a book in a time capsule to explain UK left movement politics to future generations, it'd be this one. Michael's insight is, to coin a phrase much in current use, “forensic”.’ * Clive Lewis, MP *‘Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, however impossible you thought the Corbyn project, here is a rivetingly well-written view from inside the left’s capture of the Labour party.’ * Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist *‘Michael Chessum provides not just a necessary hard-nosed assessment of the Corbyn project from someone who was at the heart of its creation, he also poses the tough challenging questions that need to be addressed for the revival of the left.’ * John McDonnell, MP *'This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand where the new left generation came from and where we go from here. Michael Chessum describes the mass movement that underpinned Corbyn’s leadership so richly that from the demonstrations to the committee rooms, you’ll feel like you’re there.' * Nadia Whittome, MP *Eloquent … It is timely stuff. -- Tom Clark * Times Literary Supplement *Featuring “unparalleled access” and a range of interviews with left-wing figures including Owen Jones, Ash Sarkar and John McDonnell MP, this is the inside story of how the Left came back to life in the 2010s, and what it can (and should) do now. * The Bookseller *A member of Momentum’s first steering committee and general figure in the rooms where it happened, Chessum is an able guide through the tumultuous period covered by the book. -- Morgan Jones * Renewal *An essential read. -- Barry Coppinger * Open Labour *'A fascinating insider’s assessment of the rise and impasse of the latest new left that gained political expression, but not realisation, through Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party. At once both controversial and sympathetic , it is essential reading for creative strategic thinking in the future.' * Hilary Wainwright, author of ‘A New Politics From the Left’ *With a lively combination of vivid first-hand reportage, insightful interviews and original analysis, This is Only the Beginning offers the most compelling account to date of the movements and circumstances that made the Corbyn moment possible, and of what needs to happen for the radical left to thrive rather than slip back into irrelevance. * Professor Jeremy Gilbert, University of East London, UK *A clear-eyed and compelling contribution to the post-mortem of the Corbyn era, this is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the movement that provided so much of the energy behind Corbyn's rise. * Gabriel Podrund, co-author of 'Left Out' *Hugely impressive … full of depth … this is a read the left needs right now. -- Mark Perryman * Philosophy Football *The story of the rise of a new left in British politics, from a leading figure in the anti-Brexit Another Europe is Possible (AEIP), is not a Court History of the Corbyn Project. It offers a picture of the movements and ‘politics from below’ that propelled the left to leadership of the Labour Party. -- Andrew Coates * The Chartist *Packed full of detailed information … written in a pacy style … [and] something of a page turner … [It] is essential reading for anyone on the left who wants to understand why the Corbyn project failed and the lessons to be drawn so that the vital and urgently needed new movement does not repeat the errors made. -- Roger Welch * Anti-capitalist Resistance *Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Introduction PART ONE: 2010-2015 Chapter One: Students in a dream world Chapter Two: A generation without a history Chapter Three: The wave breaks PART TWO: 2015-2020 Chapter Four: The riptide Chapter Five: The movement versus the machine Chapter Six: The machine strikes back: Brexit Conclusion: What now? Further Reading Index
£19.00
Luath Press Ltd Huts: a place beyond - how to end our exile from
Book SynopsisVictorian visitors had shooting lodges – Scots had trips doon the watter. Norwegian citizens had hytte – Scots had Butlins. Why have the inhabitants of one of Europe’s prime tourist destinations been elbowed off the land and exiled from nature for so long? Lesley Riddoch relives her own bothy experience, rediscovers lost hutting communities, travels through hytte-covered Norway and suggests that thousands of humble woodland huts would give Scots a vital post-covid connection with nature and affordable, low-impact holidays in their own beautiful land – at last.Trade Review'My favourite new concept from this book is friluftsliv, coined by Henrik Ibsen and describing a state in which recreation, rejuvenation and the restoration of balance are achieved through immersion in nature. For Norwegians, this means escaping to your hytte at weekends. In this brilliant book, well-known journalist, Lesley Riddoch, explores how the Nordic countries, each with about the same population as Scotland, have around 400,000 summer houses or huts, whilst we in Scotland have 630 at the last count. Probably fewer now but the Reforesting Scotland Thousand Huts campaign aims to change all that. This book is part travel documentary, part personal journal and part research for a PhD. It is immensely readable, containing within its covers the whole sad story of how Scots became disconnected from the land whilst Norwegians went the other way and now enjoy the pleasures of a friluftsliv. The connections with bothies, hostels, boats, caravans and allotments are discussed. In all cases the Nordic countries are ahead of us. Generations of a hierarchical feudal system (abolished only in 2004!) have eroded the expectations of Scots to the point that many do not even know what they are missing. Huts are really a metaphor for centuries of political injustices. Scotland has castles, Norway has hytte which are available to almost everybody. The story of Carbeth is documented here in great detail with a focus on the role of William Ferris, an unsung hero, early last century. At the same time, a very similar working class hutting site was developing on an island close to Oslo. From then on the stories of hutting in Scotland and Norway diverged. The Thousand Huts campaign is determined to make the friluftsliv available to all Scots and this book is a beacon.' - Donald McPhillimy, Reforesting Scotland Spring/Summer 2021
£9.49
Goldsmiths, Unversity of London Finance Aesthetics
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£32.40
Columbia University Press Restating Orientalism
Book SynopsisWael B. Hallaq takes critique of Orientalism as a point of departure for rethinking the modern project. A remarkably ambitious attempt to overturn the foundations of a wide range of academic disciplines, Restating Orientalism exposes the depth of academia’s lethal complicity in modern forms of capitalism, colonialism, and hegemonic power.Trade ReviewGoing beyond the questions of representations of the Orient, Hallaq's work expands the scope of the critical discussion on Orientalism to reexamine the epistemological foundations of modern historical social sciences. -- Sudipta Kaviraj, Columbia UniversityIt is becoming increasingly evident among decolonial thinkers that colonial management (with or without colonies, with or without settlers) is a question of controlling and managing knowledge, and that power differential is implicit in agents, institutions, and languages of epistemic governance. Wael B. Hallaq brilliantly drives us, through a meticulous reading of Edward Said’s Orientalism, to the awareness that domination is grounded on epistemic sovereignty and that liberation is unthinkable without epistemic freedom. -- Walter Mignolo, author of On Decoloniality: Concepts, Analytics, PraxisThis book is a brilliant interrogation of Said's famous concept, highlighting the extent which the issue of Orientalism is not simply one of problematic European authors, but instead goes to the heart of how the modern project itself constitutes subjects, knowledge, and power. In this way, Hallaq argues that confronting Orientalism means confronting the forms of violences that have marked modernity and been justified and reproduced across the academic disciplines. This provocative work raises profound and challenging questions about academia and about the contemporary self. It is essential reading and will be debated by scholars for years to come. -- Aziz Rana, author of The Two Faces of American FreedomIf anyone is going to provide a nuanced and well thought-out critique, it would surely be Professor Hallaq. Restating Orientalism is a labour of love and Professor Hallaq is clearly very fond of Edward Said and his intellectual insights. -- Usman Butt * TheNewArab *Hallaq’s Restating Orientalism has much to recommend it. It is a welcome and much-needed addition to the project of decolonizing the Western academy currently underway across the humanities and social sciences. As such, his book should appeal to a broad audience indeed. -- Evgenia Ilieva * Perspectives on Politics *The most far-reaching and detailed, but sympathetic, critique of Orientalism in the entire field. -- Bryan S. Turner * International Journal of Middle East Studies *His challenge to humanities scholars focused on the non-West is clear. * Journal of Religion *Table of ContentsPreface and AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Putting Orientalism in Its Place2. Knowledge, Power, and Colonial Sovereignty3. The Subversive Author4. Epistemic Sovereignty and Structural Genocide5. Refashioning Orientalism, Refashioning the SubjectNotesIndex
£29.75
Columbia University Press Adversary and Ally How China Shapes the Frontier Politics of India and Pakistan
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£27.00
Harvard University Press A History of Political Conflict Elections and
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£53.51
Princeton University Press Cold War Civil Rights
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£25.20
University of Massachusetts Press Making the Radical University: Identity and
Book SynopsisIn the 1960s, professors, students, and activists on the political Left viewed college curricula as useful sites for political transformation. They coordinated efforts to alter general education requirements at the college level to foster change in American thought, with greater openness toward people who had previously been excluded, including women, people of color, the poor and working classes, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community. Their work reshaped American culture and politics, while prompting a significant backlash from conservatives attempting to, in their view, protect classical education from modern encroachment. Elizabeth M. Kalbfleisch details how American universities became a battleground for identity politics from the 1960s through the 1980s. Focusing on two case studies at Stanford University and the University of Texas at Austin, Making the Radical University examines how curricular changes led to polarizing discussions nationwide around academic standards and identity politics, including the so-called canon wars. Today, these debates have only become more politically charged, complex, and barbed.Trade ReviewThis origin story of identity politics illustrates how 1960s-era student activism led to the canon wars of the 1980s and illuminates their lingering effects on higher education and contemporary culture today. Kalbfleisch’s careful archival research and clear, crisp writing style make this book a valuable resource for the field." - Jerusha O. Conner, author of The New Student Activists: The Rise of Neoactivism on College CampusesTable of Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1 Curricular Activism on Campus, 1966–1971 Chapter 2 Identity, Politics, and Identity Politics Chapter 3 The Canon Wars and Identity Politics at Stanford Chapter 4 The Escalating Canon Wars and Racism and Sexism at the University of Texas, Austin Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
£21.56
Columbia University Press The Ages of Globalization
Book SynopsisJeffrey D. Sachs turns to world history to shed light on how we can meet the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century. He takes readers through a series of seven distinct waves of technological and institutional change, starting with early modern humans and ending with reflections on today’s globalization.Trade ReviewSachs has produced a masterpiece—its scope is breathtaking, its insights stimulating, and its conceptual innovation pathbreaking. For those seeking a story about where humanity has come from and is going to, his book is a story with many lessons and hopes for the future. At once clear-headed and opinionated, he provides a roadmap for what we could and should do for our grandchildren. A wonderful book. -- Gordon L. Clark, University of OxfordThis romp through world history, by the famous economist Jeffrey Sachs, summarizes most of what you really need to know about the history of the last 70,000 years. Buy just this one book: it will let you throw away dozens of specialized books that you already own! -- Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human SocietiesUnderstanding history can help steer the future, yet economic history is too often missing from the economics curricula. Sachs goes directly against this trend by providing a tour de force historical account on how humans, technology, and nature have interacted over the last 72,000 years! Key to the book’s message is that while technological progress has been exponential, our ability to benefit from it has always depended on the ways in which people have chosen to organize themselves. Today this means that while digital technologies provide endless possibilities, public policy and corporate governance decisions are key to determining who benefits. Sustainable and inclusive development will depend on our concrete forms of democratic participation, ethical standards, and the ability to create public spheres that allow us all to flourish. A must-read! -- Mariana Mazzucato, University College LondonSachs has produced a brilliant, yet remarkably short, book on the biggest challenges now confronting humanity. He provides a compelling account of how geography, technology, and institutions have combined to shape globalization over 70,000 years, in seven distinct ages. Then he explains what humanity now has to do if it is to escape the environmental, social, and geopolitical calamities that its own staggering successes have brought so close. This book is essential reading. -- Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator, Financial TimesAs my special advisor on the Sustainable Development Goals, Jeffrey Sachs consistently emphasized that the world can achieve sustainable development only through bold and forward-looking cooperation on a global scale. In his new panoramic history of globalization, Sachs shows why the imperative of peaceful cooperation is more crucial than ever. Our very survival as a species requires that we understand our common fate. This book will help us to reach that shared understanding. -- Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United NationsThe Ages of Globalization provides an unparalleled explanation of human development. This lucidly written book is a must read for anyone interested in how humanity has evolved and the root causes of the challenges we face today. Jeff Sachs's magisterial and engaging book provides profound perspectives on human history, offering urgently needed insights to make sense of the present and offer an essential guide to our future. -- Ian Goldin, author of Age of Discovery: Navigating the Storms of Our Second RenaissanceEconomics is rediscovering historical perspectives, and thus its own roots. The result, in Jeffrey Sachs’s masterful hands, is eye-opening and refreshing. The Ages of Globalization is a tour de force through many millennia of human history, discerning patterns that help us understand in new ways our contemporary dilemmas. While the story he tells provides many reasons to be pessimistic about our future, Sachs also restores a sense of possibility with his steadfast refusal to think in ahistorical categories and his urgent plea to embrace the possibilities of the human condition. An important and empowering book. -- Sven Beckert, coeditor of American Capitalism: New HistoriesThis dazzling book makes an invaluable contribution to the debate about the future of globalization by brilliantly summarizing humanity’s existential challenges and providing bold ideas for ensuring our survival. Sachs makes a persuasive argument that applying the concept of sustainable development must be today’s essential mission. His thoughtful proposals for reforming key international institutions, starting with the UN, merit particular attention. The Ages of Globalization is required reading for our times. -- Vuk Jeremić, former president of the United Nations General AssemblyIn this erudite yet accessible book, Jeffrey D. Sachs traces the history of modern humans from our migration from Africa some 70,000 years ago to today. In a pathbreaking account, he shows how geography, technology, and institutions drive change. His analysis is indispensable for understanding current global predicaments. A tour de force. -- Prasannan Parthasarathi, Boston CollegeAs it comes from Jeffrey D. Sachs, I had expected this book to be analytical, punchy, and readable, and so it is. But it is a pleasure to be able to report that it is also a book by a superstar economist that takes both history and geography seriously and that allows the past, with all its complexities and contingencies, to speak for itself. Impressively broad in both temporal and geographical scope, this is a masterpiece of concision and a great introduction to global economic history. -- Kevin O’Rourke, author of A Short History of Brexit: From Brentry to BackstopAt a time when the foundations of the world economic order are being challenged, we must rely on the knowledge accumulated throughout history to make wiser choices for the future of our societies. In The Ages of Globalization, Jeffrey Sachs offers a superb and unique historical and analytical framework for understanding the process of globalization, highlighting its dynamic nature and addressing its social and economic implications. From the Paleolithic Age to the current digital age, this book examines the interplay of geography, technology, and institutions to achieve a comprehensive explanation of how globalization emerges and evolves. Analysts, policy makers, social and political leaders, interested citizens, and anyone concerned with the future of the global economy can draw invaluable lessons from this book. -- Felipe Larraín B., former minister of finance of ChileThe Ages of Globalization is not just a book for the modern citizen. It is an essential survival kit for the twenty-first century. At the same time that humanity was amassing wealth, it was also creating the means of its own destruction. Now we are facing forces none of us can counter alone, such as climate change and environmental degradation. Sachs’s call for action resonates with vigor and urgency. With this book, we can better explore, learn, and act. -- Miroslav Lajčák, minister of foreign and European affairs of the Slovak RepublicFew scholars have the breadth of knowledge with which to cogently weave insights from such wide-ranging fields such as agronomy, economics, archaeology, anthropology, and engineering to recount the layered story of how globalization and development unfolded. As always, Sachs is a treat to read. -- Gordon McCord, University of California, San DiegoAn authoritative account of our “shared,” increasingly interdependent human journey. * Kirkus Reviews *This masterful history of the human experience of global interconnectedness begins in the Paleolithic Age and ends in today’s COVID-19 pandemic. Sachs makes a powerful case that the globalizing forces creating our increasingly interdependent world are deeply rooted in the human condition and that they are forces—for better and worse—that are here to stay. -- G. John Ikenberry * Foreign Affairs *Sachs wears his own extensive reading lightly. He’s a very clear writer, too, and the book has some lovely (colour) charts and maps. -- Diane Coyle * The Enlightened Economist *Sachs writes in simple, clean prose that most students and general readers should find accessible. This is no small feat considering the massiveness of the topics and the brevity of the book. * Middle Ground Journal *Table of Contents1. Seven Ages of Globalization2. The Paleolithic Age (70,000–10,000 BCE)3. The Neolithic Age (10,000–3000 BCE)4. The Equestrian Age (3000–1000 BCE)5. The Classical Age (1000 BCE –1500 CE)6. The Ocean Age (1500–1800)7. The Industrial Age (1800–2000)8. The Digital Age (Twenty-First Century)9. Guiding Globalization in the Twenty-First CenturyAcknowledgmentsData AppendixNotesFurther ReadingsBibliographyIndex
£20.90
Scribe Publications Listen, Liberal: or, what ever happened to the
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£9.49
Faber & Faber The Secret Life
Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of Caledonian Road and Mayflies In The Secret Life: Three True Stories, Andrew O'Hagan issues three bulletins from the porous border between cyberspace and the real world'.Ghosting' introduces us to the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, whose autobiography the author agrees to ghostwrite, with unforgettable consequences.The Invention of Ronald Pinn' finds O'Hagan using the identity of a deceased young man to construct an entirely new one online, leading him on a journey into the deep web's darkest realms.The Satoshi Affair' chronicles the strange case of Craig Wright, the Australian web developer who may or may not be the mysterious inventor of Bitcoin, and who may or may not be willing, or even able, to reveal the truth.
£9.49
Harvard University Press Achieving Our Country Leftist Thought in
Book SynopsisMust the sins of America’s past poison its hope for the future? Lately the American Left, withdrawing into the halls of academe to rue the nation’s shame, has answered yes in word and deed. Rorty challenges this lost generation to understand its potential role in the tradition of democratic intellectual labor that began with Whitman and Dewey.Trade ReviewRichard Rorty [is] John Dewey’s ablest intellectual heir and one of the most influential philosophers alive… In lively prose, [Achieving Our Country] offers a pointed and necessary reminder that left academics have too often been content to talk to each other about the theory of hegemony while the right has been busy with the practice of it. If those criticized in the book dismiss it the way they brush aside the Blooms and D’Souzas of the world, an opportunity will be lost. Rorty invites a serious conversation about the purposes of intellectual work and the direction of left politics. I wouldn’t want him to have the last word, but the conversation should be joined. If it is conducted with the verve of Achieving Our Country, and if it shares Rorty’s genuine commitment to revitalizing the left as a national force, it will be a very good thing. * The Nation *Achieving Our Country is an appeal to American intellectuals to abandon the intransigent cynicism of the academic, cultural left and to return to the political ambitions of Emerson, Dewey, Herbert Croly and their allies. What Rorty has written—as deftly, amusingly and cleverly as he always writes—is a lay sermon for the untheological… [Americans] do not need to know what God wants but what we are capable of wanting and doing… [Rorty argues] that we would do better to try to improve the world than lament its fallen condition. On that he will carry with him a good many readers. -- Alan Ryan * New York Times Book Review *Richard Rorty is remarkable not just for being a gadfly to analytical philosophers, but for his immense reading, his lively prose and his obvious moral engagement with the issues… The conversation of philosophy would be much poorer without him… Achieving Our Country is a valuable addition to Rorty’s writings… He has things to say that are important and timely… They are said powerfully. -- Hilary Putnam * Times Literary Supplement *In his philosophically rigorous new book, Achieving Our Country, Richard Rorty raises a provocative if familiar question: Whatever happened to national pride in this country? …[and] he offers a persuasive analysis of why such pride has been lost. -- Christopher Lehmann-Haupt * New York Times *The heart of Achieving Our Country is Professor Rorty’s critique of the ‘cultural left.’ Barricaded in the university, this left has isolated itself, he asserts, from the bread-and-butter issues of economic equality and security and the practical political struggles that once occupied the reform tradition… Controversies are seeded like land mines in every paragraph of this short book. -- Peter Steinfels * New York Times *Richard Rorty’s Achieving Our Country is short, comprehensible and urges a civic and political agenda—the re-engagement of the Left… Rorty seeks to revive the vision of Walt Whitman and John Dewey, and what he sees as the real American Dream—a compassionate society held together by nothing more absolute than consensus and the belief that humane legal and economic agreements stand at the centre of democratic civilisation. -- Brian Eno * The Guardian *[In this] slim, elegantly written book…Rorty scolds other radical academics for abandoning pride in the nation’s democratic promise; in their obsession with ‘victim studies,’ he argues, they have neglected to inspire the ‘shared social hope’ that motivated every mass movement against injustice from the abolitionists to the voting rights campaign. -- Michael Kazin * Washington Post Book World *A succinct, stimulating, crisply written book… Rorty proposes a return to the liberal values that animated American reform movements for the first two-thirds of this century: from the long struggle of labor unions to obtain better conditions for workers, to the efforts of leaders like Woodrow Wilson, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson to redistribute the nation’s wealth more equitably… Although Rorty is an academic philosopher, in this book, addressed to the general reader, he employs clear, vigorous language that makes reading a pleasure rather than a chore. -- Merle Rubin * Christian Science Monitor *Achieving Our Country criticizes academic theorists and reminds us that left-wing reformers in previous periods of American history either made their careers outside the university or, at least, developed strong links with the decidedly non-academic labor movement… Rorty’s distinction between a ‘cultural Left’ and a ‘reformist Left’ is useful. As Freud replaced Marx in the imagination of academic theorists, Rorty explains, a cultural left—one that ‘thinks more about stigma than about money, more about deep and hidden psychosexual motivations than about shallow and evident greed’—came into being. -- Alan Wolfe * The Chronicle of Higher Education *It is refreshing to find so hard-hitting a portrait of the contemporary academic Left in the work of one of its own. -- Peter Berkowitz * Commentary *On behalf of countless readers whose reaction to most left academic writing over the past two decades has increasingly been not so much either agreement or disagreement as an overpowering sense of So what?, the eminent philosopher Richard Rorty has composed a marvelous philippic against the entrenched irrelevance of much of the American left… Rorty’s most important insight is into the political worldview of the academic left: that it is essentially nonpolitical… He offers a withering comparison of the core beliefs of the current cultural left with those of one of its forebears, Walt Whitman. -- Harold Meyerson * Dissent *Mr. Rorty calls for a left which ‘dreams of achieving’ America, a patriotic left he recognises from the days of the New Deal and which he remembers from the early 1960s when, for example, people campaigned for civil-rights laws to make their country better. Where, he wonders, has such reformist pride gone? In place of ‘Marxist scholasticism’, Mr. Rorty wants a left which makes reducing inequalities part of a ‘civic religion’. Yet material differences are not the only sort of thing that bothers Mr. Rorty about the contemporary United States. On a communitarian note, he argues that the ‘civic religion’ he advocates should include commitment to shared values that rise above ethnic or minority loyalties. * The Economist *Rorty made us realise how much poorer we are if Jefferson, Emerson, Whitman, Thoreau, Stowe, Peirce, William James, Santayana and Dewey are not familiar landmarks in our intellectual scenery… If we [scoff] at Rorty’s patriotic American leftism, we may find that it sets off some doubts that will come back to haunt us. When we quibble over his interpretations of our favourite thinkers, are we not confirming his stereotype of left pedantry? When we sniff at him for keeping company with rightists and renegades, do we not bear out his idea of a Left that is keener on its own purity than on fighting for the poor? As we look down our noses at the etiolation of socialism in America, should we not reckon the costs and benefits of European mass movements, and reflect on the political history of the anti-Americanism that comes to us so easily? Before leftist subjects of Her Majesty get snooty about American democracy, we might stop and wonder whose interests are served by our unshakable optimism about the past. The unguarded naiveties of Achieving Our Country are not quite as negligent as they look, and the book may well turn out to be one of the first signs of a long-delayed breaking of the ice in socialist politics following the end of the Cold War. The fact that Rorty’s old-style American leftism is closer to British New Labour than to good old socialism may prove not that he is confused, but that it is time to reset our political chronometers. -- Jonathan Rée * London Review of Books *Politically progressive academics should consider carefully Rorty’s arguments… They pose important questions about American politics and public intellectual practice. -- Harvey Kaye * Times Higher Educational Supplement *There is much to be debated, much that will probably infuriate, in Rorty’s picture of contemporary Left intellectuals… Achieving Our Country is meant to be pointedly polemical, and Rorty…[has] succeeded at stirring up emotions as well as thoughts. -- Vincent J. Bertolini * American Literature *Richard Rorty is an inspirational writer who makes a valiant effort in this book to create an atmosphere of cooperation among those he characterizes as ‘the Reformist Left.’ He wants us to return to the ideals of John Dewey and Walt Whitman and achieve the greatness that is possible in a country of our wealth and dominance. -- Edward J. Bander * Bimonthly Review of Law Books *Rorty offers a resolute defense of pragmatic and reformist politics, coupled with a sophisticated rereading of the history of 20th-century American leftist thought. The result is a book that ends up reaffirming the great achievements of American left liberalism—strong unions, Social Security, and the principled regulation of corporate power—even as it illuminates the ways in which the cultural myopia of today’s academic left has placed those achievements in jeopardy… In his insistence that there is a great American tradition of leftist reform, and that this rendition can be reinvigorated only by a return to the idea of the nation, Rorty has constructed as humane and as hopeful a defense of patriotism as one can imagine. -- James Surowiecki * Boston Phoenix *A bracing tonic against the jejune profundities and the self-centered talking points by the far Right that find their way into the media. In sharply etched arguments Rorty weaves in philosophical and historical perspectives… His message isn’t one of resignation, rather of hope grounded in the Left’s potential for reinventing itself. He thinks it’s time for the Left to stop demonizing capitalist America and to develop once again a political program of its own. -- Terry Doran * Buffalo News *For many years now, Rorty has been one of the most important American pragmatists, defending the experimental modes of inquiry first propounded by John Dewey from both traditionalists and postmodernists… In Achieving Our Country, a brief but eloquent book, Rorty begs his academic colleagues to return to the real world. ‘I am nostalgic for the days,’ he writes, ‘when leftist professors concerned themselves with issues in real politics (such as the availability of health care to the poor and the need for strong labor unions) rather than with academic politics.’ -- Jefferson Decker * In These Times *Richard Rorty is considered by many to be America’s greatest living philosopher. That assessment is firmly supported in this short, profound, and lucid volume. In Achieving Our Country, Rorty does what many of us think philosophers ought to do, namely, lay a foundation and establish a framework within which we as individuals and as a society can conceptualize and fashion operational theories by which to live and prosper together… I can think of no more important book that I have read in recent years or one that I could more fervently recommend to the readers of this journal that Rorty’s Achieving Our Country. -- Thomas R. DeGregori * Journal of Economic Issues *‘Achieving our country’ (the phrase is culled from James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time) isn’t just a redeemable aim, it’s what good radical politics has always been about. -- Gideon Calder * Radical Philosophy *Rorty’s new book urges a return to American liberalism’s days of hope, pride, and struggle within the system… Subtle without being dense, good-natured in its defiance of a whole spectrum of conventional wisdoms, Achieving Our Country is a rare book. It should be compulsory reading—if that weren’t contrary to all it stands for. -- Richard Lamb * The Reader's Catalog *A deeply considered diagnosis, a vital set of prophecies. * Publishers Weekly *[The] book contains criticism for the political left as earnestly constructive and thoughtfully formulated as any I have encountered…[Rorty’s] book is worth revisiting as the Democratic Party smarts from losses in recent special elections and considers how it might win back the House in the 2018 midterms. -- Conor Friedersdorf * The Atlantic *Table of ContentsAmerican National Pride: Whitman and Dewey The Eclipse of the Reformist Left A Cultural Left Appendixes Movements and Campaigns The Inspirational Value of Great Works of Literature Notes Acknowledgments Index
£17.06
Oxford University Press The Oxford Handbook of Political Science Oxford
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
£34.99
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Moscow Rules
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£34.88
Atlantic Books And Yet...: Essays
Book SynopsisA Sunday Times bestsellerChristopher Hitchens was an unparalleled, prolific writer, who raised the polemical essay to a new art form, over a lifetime of thinking and debating the defining issues of our times. As an essayist he contributed to the New Statesman, Atlantic Monthly, London Review of Books, TLS and Vanity Fair. Any publication of a volume of Hitchens' essays was a major event on both sides of the Atlantic. Now comes a volume of Hitchens' previously uncollected essays, covering the themes that define Hitchens the thinker: literature, religion and politics. These essays remind us, once more, of the fierce, brilliant and trenchant voice of Christopher Hitchens.Trade ReviewThe range is remarkable... Literary criticism is often where he shines - the pieces on Orwell and Chesterton, in particular, are alert, nuanced and witty. * Financial Times *And yet... there are few journalists who can match the verve and panache of Hitchens's prose. He mixes the loquaciousness of the barfly with the fluency of the literary artist, and could not pen a dull sentence if he tried. * Guardian *What you will find in And Yet..., is a body of work that offers some of the most various, nutritious and amusing prose you are likely to encounter, and that stands as a testament to the consolations of a phrase he cherished: litera scripta manet - the written word remains. * Daily Telegraph *This final collection displays his startling ability to write so well about so much... The sense of loss at the subjects he will not write about is more than outweighed by the pleasure at those that he did. * New Statesman *Table of Contents1: Che Guevara: Goodbye to All That 2: Orwell's List 3: Orhan Pamuk: Mind the Gap 4: Bring on the Mud 5: Ohio's Odd Numbers 6: On Becoming American 7: Mikhail Lermontov: A Doomed Young Man 8: Salman Rushdie: Hobbes in the Himalayas 9: My Red-State Odyssey 10: The Turkey Has Landed 11: Bah, Humbug 12: A. N. Wilson: Downhill All the Way 13: Ian Fleming: Bottoms Up 14: Power Suits 15: Blood for No Oil! 16: How Uninviting 17: Look Who's Cutting and Running Now 18: Oriana Fallaci and the Art of the Interview 19: Imperial Follies 20: Clive James: The Omnivore 21: Gertrude Bell: The Woman Who Made Iraq 22: Physician, Heal Thyself 23: Edmund Wilson: Literary Companion On the Limits of Self-improvement, Part I: Of Vice and Men 24: On the Limits of Self-improvement, Part II: Vice and Versa 25: On the Limits of Self-improvement, Part III: Mission Accomplished 26: Ayaan Hirsi Ali: The Price of Freedom 27: Arthur Schlesinger: The Courtier 28: Paul Scott: Victoria's Secret 29: The Case against Hillary Clinton 30: The Tall Tale of Tuzla 31: V. S. Naipaul: Cruel and Unusual 32: No Regrets 33: Barack Obama: Cool Cat 34: The Lovely Stones 35: Edward M. Kennedy: Redemption Song 36: Engaging with Iran Is Like Having Sex with Someone Who Hates You 37: Colin Powell: Powell Valediction 38: Shut Up about Armenians or We'll Hurt Them Again 39: Hezbollah's Progress 40: The Politicians We Deserve 41: Rosa Luxemburg: Red Rosa 42: Joan Didion: Blue Nights 43: The True Spirit of Christmas 44: Charles Dickens's Inner Child 45: G. K. Chesterton: The Reactionary 46: The Importance of Being Orwell 47: What Is Patriotism?
£10.44
Seven Stories Press,U.S. Profits Over People: Neoliberalism and the New
Book Synopsis
£13.29
Princeton University Press The China Model
Book SynopsisWesterners tend to divide the political world into good democracies and bad authoritarian regimes. But the Chinese political model does not fit neatly in either category. Over the past three decades, China has evolved a political system that can best be described as political meritocracy. The China Model seeks to understand the ideals and the reality of this unique political system. How do the ideals of political meritocracy set the standard for evaluating political progress (and regress) in China? How can China avoid the disadvantages of political meritocracy? And how can political meritocracy best be combined with democracy? Daniel Bell answers these questions and more. Opening with a critique of one person, one vote as a way of choosing top leaders, Bell argues that Chinese-style political meritocracy can help to remedy the key flaws of electoral democracy. He discusses the advantages and pitfalls of political meritocracy, distinguishes between different ways of combining meritocracy and democracy, and argues that China has evolved a model of democratic meritocracy that is morally desirable and politically stable. Bell summarizes and evaluates the China model--meritocracy at the top, experimentation in the middle, and democracy at the bottom--and its implications for the rest of the world. A timely and original book that will stir up interest and debate, The China Model looks at a political system that not only has had a long history in China, but could prove to be the most important political development of the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewA Financial Times Summer Books Selection Selected as one of Financial Times (FXXT.com) Best Books of 2015 A Guardian Best Holiday Reads of 2015 selection "[I]t is part of the job of academics to ask fundamental questions that challenge conventional thinking. Bell performs this role admirably in lucid, jargon-free prose that leads the reader back to some of the most fundamental questions in political philosophy - refracted through the experience of contemporary China ... I found the questions that Bell raised consistently stimulating."--Gideon Rachman, Financial Times "Bell ... has written a fascinating study. Open-minded readers will find it equips them with a more intelligent understanding of Chinese politics and, no less valuable, forces them to examine their devotion to democracy... [The China Model] isn't just for those who want to better understand China. More than anything I've read for a while, it also forced me to think about what's good and bad about Western systems of government. From start to finish the book is a pleasure and an education."--Clive Crook, Bloomberg View "Bell makes a solid and worthy case for why the outside world might want to think about the Chinese experiment in governance a bit more deeply... This is a very clearly written book."--Kerry Brown, Asian Review of Books "The China Model ... is as important for us as it is for China. If the book brings us some humility about the ways in which an undemocratic model like China's can be deeply rooted in history and culture, it will have done good work. But it will do something better if it can remind us that our own history isn't over."--Rob Goodman, POLITICO "In careful, clear and measured prose, [Bell] works hard to overcome prejudice, defuse emotions and discuss the pros and cons in the cool language of political philosophy. This, perhaps, is the book's greatest contribution."--James Miller, Literary Review of Canada "Serious re-evaluations of democracy are inhibited by two factors: fears about the alternatives turning sour and a century of educational indoctrination that makes imagining the alternatives a frightful exercise. Bell's book should be read as an antidote (or if you prefer, an elixir) to overcome these doubts."--Siddharth Singh, Mint "This book is a welcome addition to the expanding literature on the emerging 'China model'... Bell's argument, based on his long-term observation of China's political development, provides a nuanced, thought-provoking view of the meritocratic aspects of the Chinese system that have been obscured by the broad label 'authoritarianism.' It offers an original explanation for the resilience of the Chinese regime and essentially challenges the widely held notion that liberal democracy is the universally desirable political outcome for modern societies."--Choice "Bell is not an apologist for China but someone who teaches us to ask different questions. And these questions are fascinating."--Mariana Mazzucato, Financial Times, a FT Best Book of 2015 "A must-read scholarly account of China's political development with stimulating questions, powerful analysis as well as theoretically relevant arguments."--Bingdao Zheng, Chinese Political Science Review "This book is a must-read text for all political scientists, in particular, for those who study democracy and democratization. It can open their eyes and help them to move out of their comfort zone to examine the tough and pressing issues in the real world in which democracy and meritocracy must be combined to improve democratic government and solve many practical issues."--He Baogang, Perspectives in Politics "A deeply stimulating contribution to normative political theory."--Thomas Pangle, Perspectives in Politics "In conclusion, Bell's book is interesting and intriguing. It argues convincingly that every political system is a trade-off, and asks important questions about the US (electoral) democracy and Chinese (communist) meritocracy. Bell also develops his own model, combining elements from both."--Dao "A must-read scholarly account of China's political development with stimulating questions, powerful analysis as well as theoretically relevant arguments. The discussion of political elite-recruiting system impressively spans thousands of years, from ages of empires to nowadays, and a number of countries and regions including United States, China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan among others. One has to admire the comparative perspective the author puts in various historical periods and social contexts."--Bingdao Zheng, Chinese Political Science Review "A very well-written book that presents original scholarship."--Zhiming Cheng, Political Studies Review "Reading Bell is rewarding... This book is more than a bold challenge to democracy: it serves as a sincere invitation to a sober and less ideologically loaded dialogue between East and West."--Tao Wang, Asian Journal of Comparative PoliticsTable of ContentsPreface to the Paperback Edition ix Acknowledgments xxi Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Is Democracy the Least Bad Political System? 14 Chapter 2 On the Selection of Good Leaders in a Political Meritocracy 63 Chapter 3 What's Wrong with Political Meritocracy 110 Chapter 4 Three Models of Democratic Meritocracy 151 Concluding Thoughts: Realizing the China Model 179 Notes 199 Selected Bibliography 283 Index 307
£16.19
Princeton University Press Deadly Force
Book Synopsis
£22.50
Yale University Press Twilight of the Elites
Book SynopsisTrade Review“This book will make you fret and question your moral integrity.”—Financial Times“Guilluy, whose work is not universally admired in France, particularly by academic geographers and many on the left, seems to have seen it all coming. So there will be considerable interest in his latest work, published in French as Le Crépuscule de la France d’en haut in 2016 and now, by Yale. In a further development of his now-familiar argument, he tackles head on – and with great virulence – the flip side of La France périphérique, those he considers largely responsible for the country’s profound social, economic and political dislocation: hipsters, who the French call bourgeois-bohèmes or bobos.”— Jon Henley, The Guardian“An indispensable guide to understanding the fears and frustrations of an increasingly permanent underclass—not just in France, but throughout the world. . . . Disturbing and affecting . . . [Guilluy] has hit on something profound that extends well beyond the borders of France.”—Jonathan A. Knee, New York Times“[Guilluy] argues that France now has all the conditions in place for a ‘slave rebellion.’ . . . [His] polemic seems all the more prescient in light of the gilets jaunes protesters, who have caused havoc in Paris.”—Philip Delves Broughton, Wall Street Journal"This is a book with direct relevance outside France. Observing that metropolisation is “the domestic corollary of globalisation”, Guilluy cites London as “the quintessential ... citadel city”. Condemning elites, speaking up for the disregarded, he writes scathing, analytical Marxist class history very effectively...essential reading"— David Sexton, Evening Standard"This is indeed a remarkably prescient and powerful work, which not only is a frightening and accurate analysis of what seems to be happening right now in France, but also may well be an insight into what happens next." — Andrew Hussey, Literary Review“Written long before the riots began, this acute analysis explains the gilets jaunes” —Peter Conradi, Sunday Times (London)“Writing two years before the advent of the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests), Guilluy convincingly shows how, once again, it’s all about class struggle.”—Pepe Escobar, Asia Times“There is much that is true in Guilluy’s book” —Lara Marlowe, The Irish Times “The book is already a cultural phenomenon” — John Tomaney, LSE Review of Books
£14.64
Penguin Putnam Inc Stealth War
Book SynopsisChina expert Robert Spalding reveals the success China has had infiltrating American institutions and compromising their national security.
£21.24
Oneworld Publications Posh Boys: How English Public Schools Ruin
Book Synopsis‘The latest in the series of powerful books on the divisions in modern Britain, and will take its place on many bookshelves beside Reni Eddo-Lodge’s Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race and Owen Jones’s Chavs.’ –Andrew Marr, Sunday Times ‘In his fascinating, enraging polemic, Verkaik touches on one of the strangest aspects of the elite schools and their product’s domination of public life for two and a half centuries: the acquiescence of everyone else.’ –Observer In Britain today, the government, judiciary and military are all led by an elite who attended private school. Under their watch, our society has become increasingly divided and the gap between rich and poor is now greater than ever before. Is this the country we want to live in? If we care about inequality, we have to talk about public schools. Robert Verkaik issues a searing indictment of the system originally intended to educate the most underprivileged Britons, and outlines how, through meaningful reform, we can finally make society fairer for all.Trade Review'Verkaik comprehensively demolishes [public school] claims.' * Peter Wilby, New Statesman *‘The latest in the series of powerful books on the divisions in modern Britain, and will take its place on many bookshelves beside Reni Eddo-Lodge’s Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race and Owen Jones's Chavs.’ * Andrew Marr, Sunday Times *‘Does a fine job of reminding us how powerful a hold the elite schools have over public life.’ * The Times *'An illuminating and hugely enjoyable read, packed full of eye-opening facts... At a time when the gap between rich and poor is widening, we need to talk seriously about the role of public schools in our society. Posh Boys is a welcome catalyst for that debate.' * Sunday Herald *'In his fascinating, enraging polemic, Verkaik touches on one of the strangest aspects of the elite schools and their product’s domination of public life for two and a half centuries: the acquiescence of everyone else.' * Observer *'A trenchant j’accuse against the old-boy chumocracy... Posh Boys is, for a book about public schools, decidedly comprehensive.' * Guardian *‘You cannot understand Britain without understanding this – the story of how we became a nation obsessed with elite education that continues to stack the odds against fairness and progress, and the cultural forces it has unleashed upon us all. Robert Verkaik tells it with clarity, and makes a powerful call for change.’ -- Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish)‘Inspired, committed, careful and kind.’ -- Danny Dorling, author of Inequality and the 1%
£10.44
Atlantic Books The Invention of Russia
Book SynopsisArkady Ostrovsky is a Russian-born, British journalist who has spent fifteen years reporting from Moscow, first for the Financial Times and then as a bureau chief for The Economist. He studied Russian theatre history in Moscow and holds a PhD in English Literature from Cambridge University. His translation of Tom Stoppard's trilogy, The Coast of Utopia, has been published and staged in Russia.Trade ReviewOstrovsky has written a real insiders' story of Russia's post-Soviet "counter-revolution" - an important and timely book. * Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gulag and Iron Curtain *How post-Soviet Russia got from there to here makes a gripping story, told here brilliantly by a writer who watched it unfolding. -- Tom StoppardA vivid account of the evolution of modern Russia... Ostrovsky shows how the liberal dreams of the Gorbachev era gave way to the authoritarian nationalism of the Putin period. -- Gideon Rachman * 'Books of the Year', Financial Times *Moving and brilliantly detailed -- Rachel Polonsky * 'Books of the Year', TLS *Essential, timely, and always gripping, Arkady Ostrovsky's book explains today's reinvention of Russia, from the fall of the USSR to the rise of Putin, by chronicling the power, the money and the media with the nuanced analysis of a Moscow veteran and the narrative flair of a true chronicler of the mysteries of the Kremlin. * Simon Sebag Montefiore, author Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar *For a decade Arkady Ostrovsky has been the most insightful foreign correspondent in Moscow, and in The Invention of Russia he uses his deep understanding of the country he loves to tell the gripping, tragic story of its recent history. A brilliantly original, illuminating and essential book. * A. D. Miller, Booker-shortlisted author of Snowdrops & The Faithful Couple *Russia has always been a place where intellectuals, propagandists, viziers and prophets have played a grand role. All the gangster, KGB and oligarch focused analyses of the country's recent history have overlooked the men of ideas behind the tumultuous changes. Now comes Arkady Ostrovsky, with a detailed, gripping intellectual history of the newspaper editors, ideologues, television gurus and spin doctors who "invented post-Soviet Russia". * Peter Pomerantsev, author of Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible *Russia's surprisingly free media were once a powerful instrument of reform. In his illuminating and saddening account, Arkady Ostrovsky tells how all but a very few have turned instead - deliberately, cynically, and on behalf of the state - to creating the distorted image of reality which shapes the country today. * Sir Rodric Braithwaite, former British Ambassador to Russia and the USSR *Arkady Ostrovsky's dazzling book flags up the conflicts over ideas, morality and national destiny in Moscow politics from Gorbachev to Putin - a triumph of narrative skill and historical empathy based on personal experience and rigorous research. * Robert Service *For many Russians and most foreign observers the defeat of the coup against Gorbachev in the summer of 1991 seemed to herald an age in which liberty would triumph in Russia and the country would join the Western community of peoples. The turn to authoritarian nationalism at home and confrontation with the West is a source of dismay and even despair. Arkady Ostrovsky traces the descent from the heady days of 1991 with deep local knowledge, a journalist's fluent style and sharp eye for detail, and wit. He places much of the blame on those who owned and dominated the media in the fifteen years after the fall of the Soviet Union. * Dominic Lieven, author of Towards the Flame and Russia Against Napoleon *I was gripped by Arkady Ostrovsky's book. This is essential reading for anyone wishing to be more precisely informed about Russia today. * Ralph Fiennes *Compelling... Expertly told, with an eye for colourful detail and interesting personalities, Ostrovsky fashions a strong argument * The Tablet *A focused, bracing look at how the control of the media has helped plot the Russian political trajectory from dictatorship and back again... Astute, accessible, illuminating * Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) *Fast-paced and excellently written... A much needed, dispassionate and eminently readable explanation * New York Times *The reader feels as if on a grand tour, with Ostrovsky at the elbow. . . He is particularly good at hearing the nuances and seeing how identity, ideology and personal experience undermined hopes for democracy and reform. * Washington Post *How did Putinism come to pervade the psyche of the nation?... Ostrovsky's sparkling prose and deep analysis provide not only a sweeping tour d'horizon of Russia's malaise, but also a description of the process by which anti-modern ideas combine with postmodern actions to buttress the country's authoritarian kleptocratic system. * Wall Street Journal *
£10.44
Oxford University Press Free Will
Book SynopsisDo we really make our own decisions? Or are we compelled to act by factors beyond our control? This introduction is an investigation of one of the most important problems of Western philosophy. It looks at a range of issues surrounding this fundamental philosophical question, exploring it from the ideas of the Greek and medieval philosophers.Table of Contents1. The free will problem ; 2. Freedom as free will ; 3. Compatibilism and reason ; 4. Compatibilism and nature ; 5. Morality without freedom? ; 6. Libertarianism and scepticism ; 7. Self-determination and the will ; 8. Freedom and its place in nature
£9.49
Princeton University Press Our Money
Book Synopsis
£27.00
Taylor & Francis Global Politics
Book SynopsisGlobal Politics: A New Introduction engages directly with questions that those coming to the study of world politics bring with them. From that innovative starting point, it explores key issues through a critical and inquiring perspective, presenting theoretical ideas and concepts in conjunction with a global range of historical and contemporary case studies.Revised and updated throughout, the fourth edition offers examples engaging with the latest developments in global politics: the climate crisis and anthropocentrism, Indigenous experiences and thinking, racism and the rise of xenophobia, artificial intelligence, citizen journalism, global health and pandemic response and drone warfare.Global Politics:â examines most significant issues in global politics â poverty, development, colonialism, human rights, gender, inequality, race, war, peacebuilding, security, violence, nationalism, authority and what we can do to change the world;â offers
£37.99
Biteback Publishing Britain Needs Change
Book Synopsis* Essays by some of the best writers andthinkers of the day, on what it will take to make Britain turn a corner.
£21.25
PM Press The Revolution Of Everyday Life
Book Synopsis
£17.09
The University of Chicago Press American Diplomacy SixtiethAnniversary Expanded
Book SynopsisOffers an overview and critique of the foreign policy of an emerging great power whose claims to rightness often spill over into self-righteousness, whose ambitions conflict with power realities, whose judgmentalism precludes the interests of other states, and whose domestic politics frequently prevent prudent policies and result in overstretch.Trade Review"A book about foreign policy by a man who really knows something about foreign policy." (New York Times) "A classic foreign policy text." (Washington Post Book World) "These celebrated lectures, delivered at the University of Chicago in 1950, were for many years the most widely read account of American diplomacy in the first half of the twentieth century." (Foreign Affairs, Significant Books of the Last 75 Years)"
£19.95
The University of Chicago Press Inclusion The Politics of Difference in Medical
Book SynopsisArgues that strategies to achieve diversity in medical research mask deeper problems, ones that might require a different approach and different solutions.Trade Review"Epstein's use of theory to demonstrate how public policies in the health profession are shaped makes this book relevant for many academic disciplines.... Highly recommended." - Choice "A balanced analysis of the positive and negative effects of institutional changes on groups that are traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research." - New England Journal of Medicine"
£22.80
Princeton University Press Success and Luck
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHonorable Mention for the 2017 PROSE Award in Economics, Association of American Publishers One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 One of Bloomberg View's "Five Books to Change Conservatives' Minds," chosen by Cass Sunstein Longlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year 2016 "The reminder about the important role of luck is welcome."--Enlightened Economist "Frank is not just arguing that luck plays an important role in the lives of successful people such as Al Pacino. If that were all he was doing, his book would be engaging but trivial. But it is much more interesting than that."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution "Frank's book gives a compelling argument for why we should consider our collective needs more when we look to change society for the better."--Jill Suttie, Psy.D., Greater Good "Well reasoned, coherent, and compelling--Frank is one of the great writers of economics."--Fortune "The most striking of Frank's arguments is a computer-simulated proof of luck's importance, even in very nearly meritocratic situations."--Tim Smith-Laing, Daily Telegraph "Reading Success and Luck is almost like having a robust conversation over dinner--a simple premise, some explanation, a few examples... It is commendable that he is addressing the problem with an actual solution in mind."--Kris Rothstein, Bookslut "Frank makes his points persuasively."--Australian Financial Review "This is a bold vision and, although controversial, has a good deal more realism than the dangerous siren calls from the left for wage caps or punitive income tax rates for high earners."--Matthew Syed, The Times "Like any good economist, Frank backs up his argument with studies and statistics; and like any good behavioral economist, he investigates why this obvious fact is so hard for so many Americans to accept, and offers some strategies for overcoming that resistance."--Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing "Frank points out that for every big winner, there are scores of people who are as skilled, hard-working and intelligent, but came in just behind. The lack of a lucky break can be the difference between wild success and a near miss or worse."--Barry Ritholtz, Bloomberg View "Success and Luck is an important book: elegantly written, well argued and desisting from self-indulgence in its length."--Tim Wigmore, New Statesman "The book is diverting and easy to read... He makes a compelling case for the role of luck in much of the wealth held by people in developed societies."--Ouida Taaffe, Financial World "[An] occasionally humorous, yet most insightful book."--David Marx Book Reviews "Robert Frank's enjoyable treatise, Success and Luck, might be the better bet for fixing society. His case histories show that while winners often need talent and hard work to succeed, they also need simple, dumb luck."--Debora MacKenzie, New Scientist "How important is luck in monetary success?... Is luck as important as hard work in becoming successful?... These important questions--we ponder them often--that economists rarely bother to study. Except for one of my favourite economists Robert Frank."--Ross Gittins, Sydney Morning Herald "What makes Success and Luck different is that Frank connects the importance of luck in determining personal economic success with a set of larger policy recommendations."--Dr. Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed "Success and Luck is written in a clear, engaging and personable style, not least because it is littered with anecdotes and stories illustrating the huge effects that tiny chance events can have. I found examples from Frank's own life especially compelling."--Dan McArthur, LSE Review of Books "Though hard work, effort, and schooling are important factors, Frank demonstrates convincingly that pure, random luck also matters (a lot)... This book is well reasoned, coherent, and compelling--Frank is one of the great writers of economics."--ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xix 1 Write What You Know 1 2 Why Seemingly Trivial Random Events Matter 21 3 How Winner-Take-All Markets Magnify Luck's Role 40 4 Why the Biggest Winners Are Almost Always Lucky 56 5 Why False Beliefs about Luck and Talent Persist 69 6 The Burden of False Beliefs 86 7 We're in Luck: A Golden Opportunity 109 8 Being Grateful 128 Appendix 1: Detailed Simulation Results for Chapter 4 151 Appendix 2: Frequently Asked Questions about the Progressive Consumption Tax 158 Notes 173 Index 183
£16.14
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Anarchy State and Utopia
Book SynopsisRobert Nozicka s Anarchy, State, and Utopia is a powerful, philosophical challenge to the most widely held political and social positions of our age ---- liberal, socialist and conservative.Trade Review"...This book is the best piece of sustained analytical argument in political philosophy to have appeared for a very long time." Mind "...complex, sophisticated and ingenious." EconomistTable of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgments. PART I: State-of-Nature Theory, or How to Back into a State without Really Trying. 1. Why State-of-Nature Theory?. 2. The State of Nature. 3. Moral Constraints and the State. 4. Prohibition, Compensation, and Risk. 5. The State. 6. Further Considerations on the Argument for the State. PART II: Beyond the Minimal State?. 7. Distributive Justice. 8. Equality, Envy, Exploitation, Etc. 9. Demoktesis. PART III: Utopia. 10. A Framework for Utopia. Notes. Bibliography. Index
£25.60
AK Press Rethinking Anarchy: Direct Action, Autonomy,
Book Synopsis
£10.40
Profile Books Ltd Love in a Time of Hate: Art and Passion in the
Book Synopsis'Strikingly original, utterly absorbing' Julia Boyd, author of Travellers in the Third Reich A Financial Times 'Book to Read in 2023' 1930s Europe - as the Roaring Twenties wind down and the world rumbles towards war, the great minds of the time have other concerns. Jean-Paul Sartre waits anxiously in a Parisian café for his first date with no-show Simone de Beauvoir. Marlene Dietrich slips from her loveless marriage into the dive bars of Berlin. Father and son Thomas and Klaus Mann clash over each other's homosexuality. And Vladimir Nabokov lovingly places a fresh-caught butterfly at the end of Verá's bed. Little do they all know, the book burning will soon begin. Love in a Time of Hate skilfully interweaves some of the greatest love stories of the 1930s with the darkening backdrop of fascism in Europe, in an irresistible journey into the past that brings history and its actors to vivid life.Trade ReviewA brilliantly conceived and uniquely different cultural history of the 1930s, written with confident, alluring poise. Fascinating and revelatory -- William Boyd, author * Trio *An enthralling and insightful cultural history - one that shows how, over the course of one pivotal decade, love, freedom and the freedom to love gave way to fear, madness and despair * Washington Post *Florian Illies's whirling cultural history, Love in a Time of Hate, captures an era of unmatched hedonism ... there's the thrill of discovery on every page -- Jasper Rees * Daily Telegraph *The experimental sex lives of the artists and thinkers of the roaring 20s are set against the burgeoning threat of fascism in this wickedly amusing and timely book -- Peter Conrad * The Observer *Partly as a result of the book's organising conceit, and Illies's often arch prose style, Love in a Time of Hate achieves something that is really rather impressive - turning the great moral dramas of the 20th century into breathless melodrama. -- John Maier * The Times *A brilliantly readable and evocative social history ... beginning with the build up to the Great Depression and ending with the outbreak of war, Florian Illies's superb new book explores the complicated personal and creative lives of everyone from Marlene Dietrich and the Mann family to Salvador Dalí, and F Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald * Irish Times *It takes a skilful hand to arrange these vignettes into a dramatic image of the world slipping into catastrophe ... This erudite history covers much ground -- Anna Aslanyan * Spectator *In a revealing, offbeat slice of cultural history, Florian Illies traces the tangled affairs of Europe's intelligentsia against the backdrop of the rise of fascism ... Illies, a German writer, brings a light touch and conversational style to his mosaic view of a pivotal period ... he astutely weaves these diverse stories into a fluent, widescreen narrative * Business Post *Engaging ... Illies immerses us in a stream of gossip and political rumour, in love affairs past and present, somehow carried on amid great personal achievements and terrible folly. There is a Freudian element and no little writerly brilliance in the way Illies asks: what did these people mean by love? ... This, then, was Europe in love * TLS *Highly novelistic ... wisecracking ... skilfully composed * History Today *A cultural history of some of the 1930s greatest love stories, interwoven with the darkening backdrop of fascism in Europe * Bookseller *Love in a Time of Hate invites us to consider that history is as much an accretion of small gestures as it is a catalogue of battles and speeches. At once intimate and epic, this dazzling book illuminates the human desire to seek connection and coherence as the world descends into chaos. A brilliant and imaginative tour de force -- Rebecca Donner, author * All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days: The True Story of the Woman at the Heart of the German Resistance to Hitler *Set against the relentless rise of Nazi terror, this ingenious narrative evokes the 1930s through the loves, foibles and tragedies of the cultural elite. Strikingly original, utterly absorbing. -- Julia Boyd, author * Travellers in the Third Reich *Please do read this book - it is gorgeous. I learned so many new things about love, art and the horror of history -- Ferdinand von Schirach, author * The Collini Case *This is candid, unsparing and gripping social history viewed through the prism of two- and three-person relationships - simultaneously disenchanting and endearing. A bravura performance -- Harald Jähner, author * Aftermath *Praise for Florian Illies: 'Illies is as astute a researcher as he is an observer of the zeitgeist * Guardian *A vivid, richly textured book that chronicles a world crackling with talent, energy and foreboding * Financial Times *An absolute gem of a book * Observer *Thorough and fascinating * Time Out *
£10.44
