Politics and government Books

Book Synopsis'The politics book to be seen with in these febrile times' - The i Newspaper'How facts, rumour and mischief-making become the news we all obsess over' - Tim Shipman'A cracking read! Treat yourself...' - John CraceA BONUS CHAPTER NOW INCLUDED IN THE PAPERBACK EDITION.Ever wondered why the indiscretions of some MPs make the front page while others don't? How close journalists really are to politicians? Or how on earth the country is run when the British political system is in such a mess?Marie Le Conte looks at the role gossip, whispers and tittle-tattle play in all areas of politics - for the MPs and their advisers, the press who cover them and the civil servants in the middle of it all. From policy rows which aren't about policy at all and boozy nights with dramatic consequences, to people spinning their way to the top and dark secrets never seeing the light of day, Haven't You Heard? explores in great and entertaining detail the human side of the people running the country against a backdrop of political mayhem.

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Climate engineering is a dystopian project. But as the human species hurtles ever faster towards its own extinction, geoengineering as a temporary fix, to buy time for carbon removal, is a seductive idea. We are right to fear that geoengineering will be used to maintain the status quo, but is there another possible future after geoengineering? Can these technologies and practices be used to bring carbon levels back down to pre-industrial levels? Are there possibilities for massive intentional intervention in the climate that are democratic, decentralised, or participatory?These questions are provocative, because they go against a binary that has become common sense: geoengineering is assumed to be on the side of industrial agriculture, inequality and ecomodernism, in opposition to degrowth, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and climate justice. After Geoengineering rejects this binary, to ask: what if the people seized the means of climate production? Both critical and utopian, the book examines the possible futures after geoengineering. Rejecting the idea that geoengineering is some kind of easy work-around, Holly Buck outlines the kind of social transformation that would be necessary to enact a programme of geoengineering in the first place.

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Book SynopsisThe historiography of modern India is largely a pageant of presumed virtues: harmonious territorial unity, religious impartiality, the miraculous survival of electoral norms in the world's most populous democracy. Even critics of injustices within Indian society still underwrite such claims. But how well does the 'Idea of India' correspond to the realities of the Union?In an iconoclastic intervention, Marxist historian Perry Anderson provides an unforgettable reading of the Subcontinent's passage through Independence and the catastrophe of Partition, the idiosyncratic and corrosive vanities of Gandhi and Nehru, and the close interrelationship of Indian democracy and caste inequality. The Indian Ideology caused uproar on first publication in 2012, not least for breaking with euphemisms for Delhi's occupation of Kashmir. This new, expanded edition includes the author's reply to his critics, an interview with the late Praful Bidwai of the Indian weekly Outlook, and a postscript on India under the rule of Narendra Modi. Anderson considers whether his regime is as much of a break with the practices and thought processes of Congress rule as is generally supposed.Trade ReviewA magnificent achievement. It is a product of his ability, near-unique in today's world of ideas, to distill a country's history and politics into a few thousand words that are at once combative and informative * Business Standard, New Delhi *Anderson's scepticism towards India's claim to be a postcolonial democracy uniquely untainted by repression, emergency powers and other dark arts of territorial "unity" is timely -- Maria Misra * Prospect *Perry Anderson brings together a set of arguments that will be received with disquiet by the scholars and ideologues who have constructed a celebratory, self-righteous consensus about the Indian Republic. Instead of writing off the unspeakable violence and egregious injustice in our society as aberrations in an otherwise successful model, Anderson points to serious structural flaws and the deep seated social prejudices of those who have administered the Indian State in the decades since Independence. It is important to read this book seriously, with equanimity and an open mind, instead of flinching and turning away from it -- Arundhati RoyWell sourced and artfully crafted, offering a comprehensive history of India's ideology -- Yahya Chaudhry * Jacobin *Anderson is unanswerable when he points to a consistent Indian pattern of silence, evasion, and distortion about India's military occupation of Kashmir and its attendant regime of extrajudicial execution, torture, and detention. Many readers will be struck by the evidence Anderson adduces of the insidious dominance of upper-caste Hindus in every realm of social and political life and by his portrait of the primordial politics of caste and religion, which have enshrined a patrimonial state built on nepotism and dynasty worship. Admirers of Gandhi and Nehru will encounter many awkward facts, especially regarding their roles in the partition of India, a calamity usually blamed on British colonial administrators and Indian Muslim leaders -- Pankaj Mishra * Foreign Affairs *Exposes some substantial faultlines in recent Indian writing about India and with some justice questions the emerging consensus around India's democratic successes -- David Arnold * Times Literary Supplement *With his sharp and lucid prose, Anderson strips away many of the liberal myths surrounding Mohandas Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indian democracy itself. His incisive insights, his sweeping vision, his invocation of telling detail are all here in full measure -- Ravi Palat * Critical Asian Studies *

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Book SynopsisInsurrection offers a profound and incisive analysis of the underlying factors that culminated in the assault on Washington’s Capitol Building on that fateful day: January 6th, 2021. Going far beyond mere journalistic accounts, the book delves into structural trends within the United States, providing a broader and deeper context for comprehending the magnitude of the uprising. It explores the crisis of democracy, escalating violence, widening inequality and the prominence of conspiratorial discourse within American politics. By examining both long-term issues as well as the tumultuous events of 2020, including the pandemic, policing challenges and the fiercely contested presidential election, this book uncovers the catalysts behind conspiracy theories and the politics of outrage. This compelling narrative is essential reading for all those interested in the contemporary face of the USA.

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Book SynopsisEveryone who viewed the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games can understand the power of dance and mass movement in the service of politics. While examples of such public performances and huge festivals are familiar in Nazi Germany, the former Soviet Union and today's North Korea, this new book addresses the lesser known examples of Spain under Franco, the Dominican Republic, Iran, Croatia and Uzbekistan, all of which have been subjected to various political regimes. Dance and choreographed mass movement is the newest field of serious research in dance studies, particularly in the fields of politics and international relations and gender and sexuality. The author uses dance as a lens through which to study political, ethnic, and gendered phenomena so that the reader grasps that dance constitutes an important non-verbal lens for the study of human behaviour. This is the first study on dance and political science to focus specifically on authoritarian regimes. It is a significant and original contribution to scholarship in the field, with the key studies drawn from a variety of different geographical and historical backgrounds. In Spain under Franco, the Women's Section of the fascist Falange created a folk dance program that toured widely and through the performance of Spanish regional folk dances performed by virginal young Spanish women, embodying Catholic purity, permitted the regime to re-enter the world of polite diplomacy. The Dominican Republic dictator, Rafael Trujillo, himself a gifted dancer, raised the popular folk and vernacular dance, the merengue, to the level of the "national" dance, which became a symbol of his regime and Dominican identity, which merengue it still maintains. For over a thousand years, Croatia, has endured a series of authoritarian regimes – Hapsburg, Napoleon, the Yugoslav royal dictatorship, fascist, Josip Broz Tito's communist regime, Franjo Tudjaman – that ruled that small nation. For over 70 years, Lado, the National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia, has served as "the light of Croatian identity." Through its public performances of folk dances and music, Lado has become the face of a series of different regimes. In Iran, dance became banned under the Islamic Republic after serving the Pahlavi regime as a form of representation of its peasant population and its historic Persian identity. Uzbekistan currently has expanded the role of the invented tradition of Uzbek "classical" dance, created during the soviet period, as a representation of Uzbek identity, in national festivals. Thus, through these examples, the reader will see how dance and mass movement have become important as political means for a variety of authoritarian regimes to represent themselves. Primary readership will be dance scholars; particularly the growing number interested in ethno-identity dances of the second half of the twentieth-century Will be of interest to academic libraries and departments, with valuable information and interest also for scholars of ethnology, anthropology, cultural studies, history.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Dance and Ethnicity Dance and Nationalism Iran: The Shah’s New Dance Croatia: Lado—“Light of Croatian Culture” Spain: Women’s Work—The Sección Femenina and Spanish Folk Dance Dominican Republic: The Dictator’s Fancy Dance—Trujillo and Merengue Uzbekistan: Old Lamps for New—The Creation of Uzbek “Classical” Dance Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis*****PERFECT FOR FANS OF 'THE COMING STORM'ONE OF THE TELEGRAPH'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR 'A chilling overview of a movement that should arguably have no place in any healthy, well-educated society.' - The Telegraph'A compelling book.' - The Guardian'The Storm Is Upon Us is an impressive piece of research and a gripping read. Rothschild's book reads like a thriller, with cliffhangers that leave you eager for the next episode. The trouble, of course, is that it's not fiction.' - The Times'For anyone who fears that the world really has 'gone mad', this book might be essential reading' - The Telegraph'An ideal tour guide for your journey into the depths of the rabbit hole that is QAnon, and even shows you a glimmer of light at the exit.' - Cullen Hoback, director of HBO's Q: Into the StormIn 2017, President Trump made a cryptic remark at a gathering of military officials, describing it as 'the calm before the storm'-then refused to explain himself to puzzled journalists. But on internet message boards, a mysterious poster called 'Q Clearance Patriot' began an elaboration all of their own.Q's wild yarn hinted at a vast conspiracy that satisfied the deepest desires of MAGA-America. None of Q's predictions came to pass. But did that stop people from clinging to every word, expanding Q's mythology, and promoting it ever more widely? No.Conspiracy culture expert Mike Rothschild is uniquely equipped to explain QAnon, from the cults that first fed into it, to its embrace by Trump and the right-wing media. With families torn apart and with the Capitol under attack, he argues that mocking the madness of QAnon will get us nowhere. Instead, he argues that QAnon tells us everything we need to know about global fear after Trump-and that we need to understand it now, because it's not going away.Trade Review'I hope everyone reads this book. It has become such a crucial thing for all of us to understand.' * Erin Burnett, CNN *'Rothschild's book is a sobering look at how the QAnon phenomenon began, and how it spread online to become a sort of all-encompassing conspiracy movement.' * VICE *Compelling, comprehensive, meticulously-documented. * Booklist, Starred Review *Rothschild provides an enlightening history of the QAnon conspiracy theory... a disturbing and well-informed look at the darker side of modern American politics * Publisher’s Weekly *Timely and chilling ... Rothschild is brilliant at outlining the process by which people who were not previously drawn to political extremism come to see themselves as "patriotic researchers", able to see patterns in the information that is fed to them. * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisWhy won’t Scots simmer down?Why batter on about independence when folk voted No a decade back?After all. Scotland’s not as populated as Yorkshire, nor as wealthy as London. But it’s also not as Conservative, as keen on Brexit, or as willing to flog public assets to Tory party pals.So does Nicola Sturgeon’s departure terminally damage the case for independence?The answer, with all respect to her legacy, is no.Scotland has bigger fish to fry.In this book, Lesley Riddoch makes an impassioned call to action, weaving academic evidence with story, international comparison and anecdote to explain why Scotland is ready to step forward as the world’s newest state.We need optimism. And contagious stories of inspiration. Told out loud. In the open. Repeatedly. So, folk can engage emotionally, dare to dream of better – and go get it. Scotland is a social democracy stuck in a Conservative state that’s preoccupied with its own lost imperial status. And stuck, Scotland cannae thrive.Let’s cast aside preconceptions. Whichever way you voted in 2014 – if you did – the world, Europe, the UK, Ireland and our Nordic neighbours have all changed. Scots need the freedom to change too – the freedom to flourish.Trade ReviewExcellent read. ALEX NEIL Former MSPIt’s essential reading for anyone who wants something better for everyone living in Scotland, who needs that reminder it’s not silly or naive to dream, and is ready to spark those conversations of 2014 back to life. NIAMH MCNULTY, BellacaledoniaI loved it - felt very inspired! SARA SHERIDAN, AuthorThrive is concise, quotable, persuasive & often funny. If every voter could read a copy we'd be independent, simple as. It's all in there. A breath of fresh air to the cause. ANDREW SCOTT, AuthorThe final chapter envisages Scotland Ten Years after Independence with our children ‘finally digging where they stand.’ It makes me greet every time I read it. ELAINE C SMITHIf you are interested in Scottish independence you need to read this from Lesley Riddoch. The first chapter will, by itself, amply reward your spend. Then read the rest. RICHARD MURPHY

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Book SynopsisFascism or Genocide is New York Times Magazine writer Ross Barkan’s sweeping report on the 2024 US election and the decade of political upheaval leading up to it.As in 2020, Joe Biden campaigned on a platform to save democracy, but fewer voters were persuaded this time. During the Democratic primary season, more than half a million Americans cast votes for "Uncommitted" ballot options to send Biden a message about the urgent need to end the killing in Gaza, with some tagging him "Genocide Joe."In contrast, mainstream liberals backed the Democratic ticket in the belief that Trump would put America on the road to fascism. As the director of an influential Palestinian advocacy group tells Barkan, "It’s a choice between fascism or genocide."Biden’s withdrawal from the election and Kamala Harris’s subsequent nomination barely changed the narrative. Millions of Democrats stayed home after souring on the party, while others switched allegiance and got behind the Trump team. Fascism or Genocide takes a hard, informed look at the election, focusing on the future of the Democratic Party, the influence and potential of the progressive "Squad," and ongoing culture wars within the party.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY BOOK AWARDS'Thought-provoking and well worth reading' Times Literary SupplementAfter decades of peace and prosperity, the international order put in place after World War II is rapidly coming to an end. Disastrous foreign wars, global recession, the meteoric rise of China and India and the COVID pandemic have undermined the power of the West's international institutions and unleashed the forces of nationalism and protectionism.In this lucid and groundbreaking analysis, one of Britain's most experienced senior diplomats highlights the key dilemmas Britain faces, from trade to security, arguing that international co-operation and solidarity are the surest ways to prosper in a world more dangerous than ever.Trade ReviewA bracing, stimulating, utterly timely call for the UK to take a very hard look at its place in the world post-Brexit and after Covid. Peter Ricketts tells us we have nothing to lose but our illusions. He's right. * Peter Hennessy, author of Winds of Change *Thought-provoking and well worth reading * Times Literary Supplement *As one of Britain's top diplomats, Ricketts had a close-up view of some of the most dramatic events of recent decades... he takes a tough-minded look at the country's post-Brexit options - making the case for realistic internationalism and renewed engagement with Europe. * Gideon Rachman, Financial Times *Peter Ricketts has put all of his experience and authority into this clear, accessible and unvarnished account of Britain's place in the world. If you want to understand the big choices ahead, read this book. * David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee and former Foreign Secretary *Bursting with anecdotes and new perspectives... a perfect introduction for those engaging in the crucial-and newly wide open-debate about where Britain sits in the world, and where it goes next. * Prospect *Searing... The hardest choice for the UK is "to accept reality", Ricketts argues. * Financial Times *Where others deal in soundbites and slogans, Peter Ricketts brings his deep expertise and wisdom to bear on the great issues facing Britain as it rethinks its role in the world. He offers a riveting analysis of what our interests really are at a time of severe strain on the liberal democratic order, and a wealth of insights into how best we should pursue them. * Ivan Rogers *A clarion call for a post-Brexit national conversation and a new national strategy. Written with grace and clarity, Hard Choices is a book for every informed citizen concerned for Britain's future in a dangerous and unpredictable world. * Vernon Bogdanor, CBE FBA, Professor of Government, King's College, London *As Britain defines its post-Brexit role against the backdrop of a more fragmented, complex and uncertain world, Peter Ricketts offers sage advice about next steps, including the need for a focused strategy and international cooperation. Hard Choices is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of this country. * Karin von Hippel, Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute *Incisive, stimulating and highly-readable. Peter Ricketts turns forty years' experience of British foreign policymaking into a road map of where Britain should be going in the post-Brexit, post-Covid world. * David Reynolds, author of Island Stories: An Unconventional History of Britain *Peter Ricketts has used his experience as one of the best diplomats of his generation to produce a book that is magisterial in its scope and analysis -- and in its recommendations for how the UK can use the realities of the post-Brexit era to its advantage. Essential reading for all who care about Britain's position in the world. * Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary *A sharp and salutary reality check from one of Britain's wisest and most experienced diplomats. Peter Ricketts has a simple message: despite Brexit, Britain remains a European power and must reject isolationist and imperial delusions. * Andrew Adonis *A clearer analysis of Britain in the 2020s will not be found: read this brilliant book. * Sir Anthony Seldon *With a combination of behind-the-scenes anecdotes and sharp analysis, Peter Ricketts uses his extensive diplomatic and national security experience to consider the importance of thinking strategically about the future role of Britain in the world. * Rt Hon Baroness Catherine Ashton GCMG PC *No one is more able than Peter Ricketts by experience and wisdom, to set out clearly and sensibly the broad parameters of Britain's strategy in the age of Brexit, pandemic, climate change and the threats to liberal democracies from China. A sensible Government would implement these proposals with enthusiasm straight away. * Chris Patten, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and former Governor of Hong Kong *A candid and sometimes brutal sizing up of past mistakes, of chances missed and of opportunities still open. This dissection of British strategic choices by the UK's first National Security Adviser and one of our most experienced diplomats reveals not just the inside story of how we got here but what it will feel like to be in the room when the hard choices have to be made. * Professor Sir David Omand, former director of GCHQ *Sharp and engaging... All of us who care about Britain remaining a major force in shaping the international order should pay careful attention to both the analysis and policy recommendations of Hard Choices. * Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy at the American Enterprise Institute *Table of Contents0: Introduction 1: Imagining the Post-War Order 2: Managing an Alliance of Unequals 3: Rethinking the Use of Force 4: Picking the Right Threats 5: Reviving the Lost Art of Strategy 6: Finding the Power to Influence 7: Triangle of Tension: Britain, America and China 8: The International System and the Lure of the New 9: Trade, Values and the Mercantilist Trap 10: How Far Offshore? Britain, Europe and the Indo-Pacific Tilt 11: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisChris Atkins is a BAFTA-nominated film-maker. His documentaries Taking Liberties and Starsuckers were critically acclaimed and made front-page news. He directed the documentary film Who Killed the KLF? and has also worked extensively with Dispatches for Channel 4 and BBC Panorama. Following his release from prison, he is now back in North London, filming documentaries and writing.

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Book SynopsisThe Unconscious knows no time, it has no before-and-after, it does not have a history of its own. Yet, it does not always remain the same. Different political and economic conditions transform the way in which the Unconscious emerges within the "psychosphere" of society. In the early 20th century, Freud characterized the Unconscious as the dark side of the well-order framework of Progress and Reason. At the end of the past century, Deleuze and Guattari described it as a laboratory: the magmatic force ceaselessly bringing to the fore new possibilities of imagination. Today, at a time of viral pandemics and in the midst of the catastrophic collapse of capitalism, the Unconscious has begun to emerge in yet another form. In this book, Franco 'Bifo' Berardi vividly portraits the form in which the Unconscious will make itself manifest for decades to come, and the challenges that it will pose to our possibilities of political action, poetic imagination, and therapy.Trade ReviewAs a diagnostician, Berardi is among the sharpest. * Slate *Bifo is a master of global activism in the age of depression. His mission is to understand real existing capitalism. Sense the despair of the revolt, enjoy this brilliant 'labour of the negative'! * Geert Lovink, Founding Director of the Institute of Network Cultures *

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Book SynopsisTo understand the scale of what faces us and how it ramifies through every corner of our lives is to marvel at our inaction. Why aren't we holding emergency meetings in every city, town and village every week?What is to be done to create a planet where a communist horizon offers a new dawn to replace our planetary twilight? What does it mean to be a communist after we have hit a climate tipping point?The Tragedy of the Worker is a brilliant, stringently argued pamphlet reflecting on capitalism's death drive, the left's complicated entanglements with fossil fuels, and the rising tide of fascism. In response, the authors propose Salvage Communism, a programme of restoration and reparation that must precede any luxury communism. They set out a new way to think about the Anthropocene. The Tragedy of the Worker demands an alternative future - the Proletarocene - one capable of repairing the ravages of capitalism and restoring the world.Trade ReviewSalvage is the most exciting journal to appear on the anglophone left over the past decade: avant-garde Marxism with no illusions, perfectly pitched to our dismal times. Here the formidable Salvage Collective tackles the defining question of those times: the ecological crisis. The result is the most beautiful and urgent essay yet written on what climate catastrophe means for the struggle for communism, in the past, present and future. This is one for the ages. -- Andreas Malm, author of How to Blow Up a PipelineThe kind of realism we need to meet this moment: eyes wide open. Strangely poetic, as befitting a tragedy. I never want to read books about the ecological crisis twice, but this one I will return to many times, because it's layered. Layered but legible; bold and without pretention - this is a book you can't wait to pass along to a friend, because despite its grimness, it evokes that feeling of common cause. -- Holly Jean Buck, author of After GeoengineeringA book that ought to be essential reading for all ... detailed, convincing and critically important. -- Andy Hedgecock * Morning Star *

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Book SynopsisWhether class or race is the more important factor in modern politics is a question right at the heart of recent history's most contentious debates. Among groups who should readily find common ground, there is little agreement. To escape this deadlock, Asad Haider turns to the rich legacies of the black freedom struggle. Drawing on the words and deeds of black revolutionary theorists, he argues that identity politics is not synonymous with anti-racism, but instead amounts to the neutralization of its movements. It marks a retreat from the crucial passage of identity to solidarity, and from individual recognition to the collective struggle against an oppressive social structure. Weaving together autobiographical reflection, historical analysis, theoretical exegesis, and protest reportage, Mistaken Identity is a passionate call for a new practice of politics beyond colorblind chauvinism and "the ideology of race."Trade ReviewAsad Haider offers a clarifying and frank assessment of the left's evacuation of class from our identity debates, as well as a powerful defense of political solidarity across hierarchies of race. Drawing on the radical legacy of anti-racist movements-from the Black Panthers to the Combahee River Collective-Mistaken Identity puts forward a powerful vision of collection action, that should offer hope and inspiration to a new generation of activists. -- Zadie Smith, author of White Teeth and Feel FreeRiveting. Haider moves deftly over difficult terrain. His prose is precise and propulsive. His Marxism is not a mausoleum but a living, breathing thing. And he writes as both a militant and a theorist, one who believes that theory is integral to political struggle and that theoretical rigour has political stakes. The American left has shown signs of life recently, but it has no shortage of enemies. Defeating them will require, among other things, ideas. Haider's book contributes several. We will need more. -- Ben Tarnoff * Guardian *Essential reading for anyone interested in bringing socialist ideas into movements against racism today. * Socialist Worker *Mistaken Identity will inspire some, piss off others, and compel all of us to reconsider how we fight back. A bold, fresh, and radical critique of so-called "identity politics," this book deserves a wide reading-especially now, when liberal multiculturalism, the "renaturalization" of capitalism, and a resurgent bourgeois black nationalism draped in radical language forecloses the possibility of revolutionary solidarity. Asad Haider proclaims another universality is possible, and it's probably not what you think. -- Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical ImaginationAsad Haider renews the critique of identity politics for the contemporary Left. Drawing on the work of British cultural studies, black feminism, and theories of the subject (and subjection), Haider writes in an open and persuasive prose to show how identity is always partial and ambivalent, deflecting from the larger racial ideologies while reproducing its terms. This is a fresh and timely book, thoughtful and provocative. -- Judith Butler, author of Gender Trouble and Frames of WarReviving what has become a deeply unfashionable anti-racist standpoint, Asad Haider indicts the complicity of "identity politics" from the left. For him, the dissident mentalities and meticulous historical methods of open-ended, ecumenical commitment to radical social transformation are still valid. This spiky little book shows how opposition might be salvaged from an ocean of pessimism and despair. -- Paul Gilroy, author of The Black Atlantic and There Ain't No Black in the Union JackAsad Haider offers a devastating and constructive critique of what is commonly understood as "identity politics," while still maintaining the centrality race, racism and racist oppression in capitalism. -- Bill Fletcher, Jr., coauthor of Solidarity Divided and former president of TransAfrica ForumPithy, smart and readable, Mistaken Identity is a wonderful book for our time. Notwithstanding his critique of identity, there is a compelling authenticity to Haider's voice, making him someone one wants to think with about shaping a left vision today. -- Wendy Brown, author of States of Injury and Undoing the Demos[Asad Haider] constructs a comprehensive and critical dissection of identity politics in his hard-hitting debut...This book is an important contribution to discourses on American politics, race, and social movements. * Publishers Weekly *Asad Haider has written a brief and informed survey and critique of the inherent flaws in identity politics. It convinces the reader through a measured calm, not polemics, and that's a refreshing change in these troubled times. -- Christian John Stephens * PopMatters *For a slim book, Haider's argument is expansive and philosophically challenging. Although he never overwhelms the reader with unexplained jargon, the range of work he engages with is impressive, including that of Althusser, Judith Butler, Wendy Brown, Paul Gilroy, Stuart Hall, and more. Moving through this material with skill and acumen, Haider sets out to undercut the material and philosophical foundations of identity politics (and the idea of identity itself). -- Michael Mirer * Public Books *Mistaken Identity is a refreshing and timely answer to the rupturing status quo that flows within the popular movements of our day. Haider's critique of liberal identity politics cuts through the fog that has been raised by opportunists who seek to divide popular movements. His insurgent universality could become a potentially useful way of thinking through the identity politics that seek to divide rather than reconstitute our movements into a larger program with demands for a better world for all of us. -- Brant Roberts * Marx & Philosophy Review of Books *Short and readable, the book provides an intellectual genealogy of anti-racism and of the myriad ways in which contemporary anti-racist politics go awry. -- Aidan J. Beatty * Logos: Journal of Modern Society and Culture *Lucid, compact, and fiercely polemical, Asad Haider's book Mistaken Identity identifies a desperate need for greater political solidarities and broader coalitions at a time when left political movements are governed largely by the logic of 'staying in your lane,' which poses a significant barrier to mass organizing in the United States. -- Field Street Collective * Commune Magazine *

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You may be OK with standard stuff like Conservatism and Democracy, but do you really know what Patrimonialism is? And what about Oligarchy? Anarcho-syndicalism? Politics is, we are willing to bet, the most passionately argued-over subject matter, and yet how many of us flounder around in confrontational debates because we have no grip on political theory, just a vague notion that they are all out to get us? 30-Second Politics will help dispel this fog mistrust and paranoia. It challenges political theorists of all colors to come up with no-frill, no-spin, tell-it-like-it-is explanations of the 50 most important political -isms, -archies, and -ocracies that have pertained since the time of Periclean Athens. At no public expense, the book explains each political theory in nothing more than two pages, 300 words, and some propaganda-style imagery, for we all know that a picture opportunity is worth a thousand words of dull interview.

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Book Synopsis'As good an explanation as you will ever read of how the deindustrialisation of the 70s and 80s fuelled Brexit' The Times 'Magnificent . . . A fascinating insight into a decade that changed the nature of sport and changed the face of the country' Rory Smith, Chief Soccer Correspondent, New York TimesFeaturing many interviews with sportsmen, managers, miners, musicians, fans and local politicians, this deeply researched and moving investigation casts a new light on an era that read the last rites for the country's collective culture.Trade ReviewIf you want to know how it feels to be left behind, if you want to know how it feels to be forgotten, if you want to know how it feels to be heartbroken, then read this book. -- David PeaceA tender and often terrifying tour of some of Yorkshire's - and England's - most cherished sporting institutions and the communities that surround and succour them, and how their experience reflects the nation's swaying fortunes since the start of the 1980s, A Yorkshire Tragedy is compelling, illuminating, very human and often quite moving. -- Simon Burnton * Guardian *A well-researched, lovingly-written, thoughtful journey across the sporting highs and struggles of a great English region - placed in the context of its social fabric, qualities, conflicts and historic disasters: Anthony Clavane's book illuminates, and delivers important home truths throughout. -- David ConnAgain the echoes of Brexit are clear. Commentators and strategists just weren't listening to the right conversations. Or reading the right things. J. D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy eloquently tells the story of the "left behind" in the Appallachians and the social and economic costs of change that fuelled the rage underpinning Trump. The British equivalent is the brilliant A Yorkshire Tragedy by Anthony Clavane, which is as good an explanation as you will ever read of how the deindustrialisation of the 70s and 80s fuelled Brexit. * The Times *A Yorkshire Tragedy combines social and sporting history with total relevance to the present day. A fine record of the sad decline of God's own country. -- David Bernstein, FA chairman 2011-2013The language sparkles, the insights flash . . . The rise and fall of Yorkshire sporting giants is a marvellous prism for the social and economic change in the region . . . Essential. * Prospect *Authoritative, passionate and evocative this deeply researched work is about more than Yorkshire, more than sport. It is about society and needs to be read in Westminster as much as Leeds, Bradford or Sheffield. -- Glenn MooreThis is a wonderful book, at its heart about why we love our sport with such a passion. -- Phil Caplan * Forty20 (national rugby league magazine) *A fascinating insight into a decade that changed the nature of sport and changed the face of the country. This magnificent book is about Yorkshire . . . but its examination of God's own county will have echoes for people in every corner of Britain. -- Rory Smith, Chief Soccer Correspondent, New York Times

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling authorWhich fifty people made Britain the wreck she is? From ludicrous propagandist Alastair Campbell to the Luftwaffe's allies, the modernist architects, it's time to name the guilty.Quentin Letts sharpens his nib and stabs them where they deserve it, from TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, the dumbed-down buffoon who put the 'h' in Aspidistra, to the perpetrators of the 'Credit Crunch'. Margaret Thatcher ruptured our national unity. The creators of EastEnders trashed our brand over high tea. Thus, he argues, are the people who made our country the ugly, scheming, cheating, beer-ridden bum of the Western world. Here are the fools and knaves and vulgarians who ripped down our British glories and imposed the tawdry and the trite. In a half century we have gone from end-of-Empire to descent-into-Hell.Trade ReviewRivetting * Now and Then magazine *[Letts] discharges his duty with flair and tracer precision...an angry book, beautifully written. * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe first collection of influential anarchist Hippolyte Havel's works.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisSpin doctors are seldom out of the news for long. But who really understands what 'spin' is, or what spin doctors do? The media has moved on from a world where press officers carried piles of newspapers to the office each morning, when Twitter was what birds did and mobile phones were the size of bread loaves. Thank goodness Paul Richards is here to explain spin doctoring in a digital world.Essential reading for anyone who wants a career in communications or is intrigued by what keeps the cogs turning behind Parliament, How to Be a Spin Doctor covers all the essential skills, such as:* snagging positive media coverage* creating eye-catching news releases and photo opportunities* avoiding the endless traps set by journalistsPaul Richards challenges the increasingly negative connotations of spin, arguing that it is neither a dishonourable practice nor a new one; it's simply the most practical way to convey information or make a point. The truth of the matter is that the spin doctor's trade secrets can be useful to anyone trying to promote a company, client or cause: to protect reputations, get messages across and win public support. So it's time to start reading and get spinning.

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Book SynopsisWhat's behind the narcissistic behaviour of political leaders, wild opinion on social media, and polarised debates? How to tame the political animal: The missing piece is a journey of discovery of the underlying behaviour patterns that make us politically self-centred, and effectively, less human. From the holy sites in Jerusalem to popular revolutions in the Arab world, this book builds on John Bell's extensive experience as a diplomat and mediator in the Middle East to show how we ignore this key dimension of our politics at our peril. By breaking down the ingredients of what constitutes our political ego and how they work, this book provides us with the means to master it.Table of ContentsIntroduction - Adventures on a blue line, The hidden dimension, The magnified self, We are all involved, Mastering the political ego,Transforming our group mind, A larger purpose

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Book SynopsisThroughout the coronavirus crisis, the fortnightly columns of Private Eye's Medical Correspondent 'MD', aka NHS doctor Phil Hammond, have been required reading. Astute, compassionate and scientifically literate, 'MD' has guided Eye readers through each stage of the pandemic, from every perspective: global and national; political and personal. In an updated collection of his much-praised columns, and with new wisdom gleaned from charting the failures and triumphs in the continuing battle with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, he sets out what went wrong, what went right - and what needs to happen now as new variants emerge and the UK public looks forward to a long-awaited official government public inquiry.Table of ContentsIllustrated with cartoons throughout.

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Book Synopsis'Gradually I forgot I was a foreigner.' Barbara Henderson has been Scottish by inclination for 30 years. She fell in love with Scotland and its people when she left Germany at the age of 19. Now a children’s author, storyteller and teacher in the Highlands, she gives us a lively glimpse of Scotland through the eyes of an EU immigrant – from her first ceilidh to Brexit and the choppy seas of citizenship. Scottish by Inclination also celebrates the varied contributions of 30 remarkable Europeans – beer brewers, entrepreneurs, academics, artists and activists – who have chosen to call Scotland home. ‘All voices matter and deserve to belong. Belonging is more than a privilege. Belonging, I am now convinced, can be a choice.’Trade ReviewAn affectionate and warm-hearted look at what it means to be a 'new Scot.' – Margaret Kirk A wonderful compendium of voices. – Donald S. Murray Moving and funny... a revealing snapshot of what it's like being an immigrant. – Professor David Worthington A rich mosaic of individual stories and a signpost, fashioned from resilience and optimism to the future. – James Robertson

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Book SynopsisI will not travel beyond Glasgow’s city limits, or use any vehicles except my bike, for a whole calendar year. – Ellie Harrison, January 2016 This simple proposition – to attempt to live a ‘low-carbon lifestyle of the future’ – put forward by an English artist living in post-industrial Glasgow cut to the heart of the unequal world we have created. A world in which some live transient and disconnected existences within a global ‘knowledge economy’ racking up huge carbon footprints as they chase work around the world, whilst others, trapped in a cycle of poverty caused by deindustrialisation and the lack of local opportunities, cannot even afford the bus fare into town. We’re all equally miserable. Isn’t it time we rethought the way we live our lives? In this, her first book, Ellie Harrison traces her own life’s trajectory to examine the relationship between literal and social mobility; between class and carbon footprint. From the personal to the political, she uses experiences and knowledge gained in Glasgow in 2016 and beyond, together with the ideas of Patrick Geddes – who coined the phrase ‘Think Global, Act Local’ in 1915, economist EF Schumacher who made the case for localism in Small is Beautiful in 1973, and the Fearless Cities movement of today, to put forward her own vision for ‘the sustainable city of the future’, in which we can all live happy, healthy and creative lives.Table of ContentsForeword to the Second Edition 3 Summary of Key Ideas 7 Preface 13 Introduction 15 part 1 a brief history of neoliberalism Chapter 1 Thatcher’s Children 20 Straight outta Compton 20 What the fuck is neoliberalism? 24 Privatisation 25 Deregulation 27 Trade liberalisation 28 Social mobility isnae what they say 32 Waste not, want not 35 Major setback 36 Chapter 2 Creative Decade 40 Things can only get better 40 The knowledge economy 46 A golden age 49 Technologies of the self 52 Community vs career 55 Chapter 3 Welcome to Scotland 57 Dark clouds 57 Creative education 59 Bring Back British Rail 66 Hedonism vs asceticism 73 Austerity politics 76 Long-distance love 82 Reality check 89 Chapter 4 Socialist Dystopia 92 Turning point 92 You are what you eat 96 System change, not climate change 102 Asceticism and the spirit of capitalism 107 Compromise and complicity are the new original sins 110 Progress trap 114 The leaky bucket 119 Worst inequalities in Western Europe 123 Settlers and colonists 127 First as tragedy, then as farce 131 Carbon Graph (2021) 138 part 2 the glasgow effect Chapter 5 When the Chips Hit the Fan 144 Calm before the storm 144 I like Glasgow and Glasgow likes me 149 Facebook wormhole 158 The Divide 173 Small is Beautiful 174 Could there be a worse insult? 178 Chapter 6 Creative Destruction 183 But is it art? 183 Money can’t buy you love 187 Every human being is an artist 195 I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore! 198 Career suicide 203 Where art and politics become one 205 Public property 208 Chapter 7 Lived Reality 211 Low-carbon lifestyle of the future 211 Citizen’s Basic Income 214 Biographic solutions to systemic contradictions 216 History, politics and vulnerability 219 Overcrowding 219 Rip it up and start again 220 Brain drain 220 Hypocrisy kills 221 Other causes of ‘the Glasgow effect’ 223 Diseases of despair 224 The elephant in the room 225 Remunicipalisation! 230 Reflection and action 236 We need to stop ‘researching’ and start fighting! 239 Practising what we preach, preaching what we practise 243 Thrift radiates happiness 247 Hostile environments 251 The outsiders 253 Chapter 8 Aftershock 255 The end is the beginning 255 Impact agenda 266 The report 269 Homecoming 272 Worst nightmare 275 part 3 the sustainable city of the future Chapter 9 Think Global 282 Climate emergency 282 Downward mobility 285 Back to the future 288 Prosperity without growth 293 Deconsumerisation 297 Chapter 10 Act Local 298 City as a site for social change 298 Regional power 299 Community control 303 Fearless Cities 305 Non-material pathways out of poverty 309 World-class public transport 310 Sharing is more sustainable 312 Motivational structures and meaningful work 314 Variety is the spice of life 315 Chapter 11 Universal Luxurious Services 319 Those things we all need to live happily and well 319 Information 321 Transport 321 Food 322 Healthcare 323 Housing 325 Co-production 327 Foundational economy 329 Public luxury 331 Localism and protectionism 332 Positive alternatives 334 Car-free future 336 Chapter 12 Travelling Without Moving 341 Equalising mobility 341 Minimising migration 346 Paradox of repopulation 349 Education for life, not for work 352 Rekindling our radical past 355 Love-hate relationship with the city 356 Acknowledgements 359 Endnotes 361

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Book SynopsisIn one sense, of course, all of Stuart Hall's writing was political, but this collection focuses on the essays he wrote throughout his life that directly engaged with the political issues of the day. From the beginning, his analyses focused strongly on the central role of culture in politics, and his insights are evident across the whole selection, whether he is writing about Thatcher's authoritarianism or the double shuffles of Tony Blair. These essays come from three broad periods: the 1950s and 1960s, when Hall was involved in the New Left; the 1970s and 1980s, when he evolved his critique of Thatcherism; and from the 1990s until the end of his life, when he focused on the emergence of neoliberalism. The editors have brought together the best and most representative works of a writer with a unique and conjunctural approach to understanding politics, and have collected those works that have a general application to broader political questions. The collection is therefore valuable for readers interested in the politics of the past sixty years, in specific political questions, such as around political commitment, or the politics of empire, and specific political moments, such as the Cuban Crisis, or the actions of New Labour. But Hall's engaging writing and the connections here between his more obviously political writing and the other areas of his work-including identity politics and race-also make the collection an essential resource for those interested in politics more generally.Trade Review'Hall's capacity to remind us that it was no less possible to think Britain without its empire than it was the colonies without the metropolitan "motherland" was a product of the changing conjunctures in which he lived his life. It was the quickening pace of decolonization, together with the escalation of the commonplace racism and racial violence against people of color in Britain in the mid-1960s, that pushed the legacies of colonialism to the forefront of Hall's work. The last colonial could only slowly decolonize his own thought.' 'That the British left has yet to decolonize--to fully understand the entanglement of capitalism and colonialism or the intersections of class and race they have created--was painfully evident from its struggle to make sense of the resurgence of white nationalism unleashed by Brexit. It is, as Hall wrote of the left at the height of Thatcherism, a hard road to renewal. Let's hope it is not also a long one.' James Vernon, Public Books 'By gathering together these pieces in one place this volume shows just how eager and unremitting Hall was in tackling the changing political dynamics of the time. Unafraid and unreserved in his analysis, the writing is full-on in it's speaking of truth to power. The style varies over time, but the sparkle and urgency remain throughout. As well as being described as a cultural theorist, Hall is often seen to be a public intellectual. Here we see these characteristics mixing together in a volatile but controlled cocktail. The potency of the voice and its immersion in political debates and dialogue is striking -- it is perhaps so striking because it is so unusual in its tenor and almost unique in its power. In this regard this collection is a call to engage as well as a guide in how to question our pressing political concerns. It demands involvement. It demands thoughtful and considered interaction -- without the need to pacify our critical edges. Hall's edge was certainly never dulled, not by time or by what might have appeared to be a potentially futile and harsh political landscape.' David Beer, Medium 'Davison, Featherstone, Rustin and Schwarz have done a magnificent job of capturing his ideas in this nearly fifty year evolution. Hall was drawn intuitively to Freudianism (with much of the British New Left) and deconstruction, precisely because the old truisms of the British class struggle--the working class triumph over a collapsing capitalism--had run dry. [...] Hall captured the status of the underclass effectively as he posed the political and social reality of the 1980s.' Paul Buhle, Labour and Working Class History Association (LAWCHA) The centerpiece essay is "The Great Moving Right Show," his 1979 analysis of Margaret Thatcher's "authoritarian populism." Her rise was as much a cultural turning point as a political one, in Hall's view--an enmity toward the struggling masses, obscured by her platform's projected attitude of tough, Victorian moderation. Many of the pieces in this collection orbit the topic of "common sense," how culture and politics together reinforce an idea of what is acceptable at any given time.' Hua Hsu, the New YorkerTable of Contents1. The New Conservatism and the OldUniversities & Left Review, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Spring 1957)2. A Sense of Classlessness Universities & Left Review, No. 5 (Winter 1958)3. The Supply of DemandIn Out of Apathy, New Left Books/Stevens and Sons (1960)4. The Cuban Crisis: Trial-run or Steps towards Peace?War & Peace, Vol. 1, No. 1 (January-March 1963)5. Political Commitment In The Committed Church, Darton, Longman and Todd (1966)6. The First New Left: Life and Times In Out of Apathy (1990)7. A World at One with ItselfNew Society No. 403 (1970)8. Racism and Reaction In Five Views of Multi-Racial Britain, Commission for Racial Equality (1978)9. 1970: Selsdon Man: Birth of the Law and Order Society Written with C. Critcher, T. Jefferson, J. Clarke & B. Roberts From Chapter 9 of Policing the Crisis: 'Mugging', the State and Law and Order, Macmillan (1978)10. The Great Moving Right ShowMarxism Today, Vol. 23, No. 1 (January 1979)11. The 'Little Caesars' of Social DemocracyMarxism Today, Vol. 25, No. 4 (April 1981)12. The Empire Strikes Back New Socialist (July-August 1982)13. The Crisis of LabourismIn The Future of the Left, Polity Press/Basil Blackwell (1984) 14. The State: Socialism's Old CaretakerMarxism Today, Vol. 28, No. 11 (November 1984)15. Blue Election, Election BluesMarxism Today, Vol. 38, No. 7 (July 1987)16. The Meaning of New Times New Times, L&W (1989)15. And Not A Shot Fired: The End of Thatcherism?Marxism Today, Vol. 42, No. 12 (December 1991)17 Our Mongrel Selves New Statesman (1992)18. The Great Moving Nowhere Show Marxism Today, special issue (November-December 1998)19. New Labour's Double-ShuffleSoundings, No. 24 (Summer 2003)20. The Neoliberal Revolution Soundings, No. 48 (Summer 2011)

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Book SynopsisPakistan is facing a multitude of critical challenges, a ''Polycrisis'' arising in many areas at once--political, constitutional, economic, security-related, geo-political, demographic and ecological. These systemic predicaments are the cumulative consequence of decades of poor governance and squandered opportunities, whose convergence now creates a formidable existential threat. Maleeha Lodhi holds that Pakistan''s governmental leaders, both civilian and military, have failed to take a long view and to outline a vision for the country. They have spent much of their time in power operating in crisis management or power preservation modes, postponing meaningful reform and looking for expedient short-term ''solutions''. The consequences of those sins of omission and commission are now coming together. In this new volume, Lodhi has brought together eighteen chapters by experts in a variety of fields, including Murtaza Syed, Zahid Hussain, Riaz Mohammad Khan and Adil Najam, to analyse Pa

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Book SynopsisIn 50 Things About Us, Mark Thomas combines his trademark mix of storytelling, stand-up, mischief and really, really well-researched material to examine how we have come to inhabit this divided wasteland that some of us call the United Kingdom. Based on his latest show, 50 Things About Us, Mark picks through the myths, historical facts and current figures of our national identities to ask: who do we think we are?

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Book SynopsisBehind the world's most iconic front door lies the core of British political power: the Prime Minister's home and office. Designed over three centuries ago as an ordinary residence, 10 Downing Street (or 'No. 10') has undergone a challenging metamorphosis, with continuous adaptation and renovation allowing successive occupants to make their mark on this evolving, surprising and in some places crumbling building. No. 10's first-ever Researcher in Residence, Jack Brown, has used unprecedented access to people and papers to uncover intimate stories of Downing Street's post-war residents, staff and visitors, revealing how those in power have shaped the building - and been shaped by it in return. This is a fascinating account of unexplored corners of one of the nation's best-known buildings, from the minutiae of decoration and diplomacy to the drama of terrorist bombs and political bombshells.Trade Review'Serious analysis of government and its processes... but the human element is there, too' -Daily Mail; 'Everything you could want to know about Downing Street is here' -TLS; 'A fascinating biography of one of the great political survivors: Downing Street. A must-read for anyone who has wondered what life is like behind that famous black door' -Matt Chorley, The Times; '...full of such gems which make it a delight to read' -Civil Service World; 'the book is indispensable...' -LSE Review of Books

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Book SynopsisIn 1939, with Europe on the brink of war, Peter Gumbel's grandparents fled Nazi Germany for England. In2019, appalled not only by the result of the Brexit referendum but by the ugliness it exposed in our politics and wider society, he became a citizen of Germany,the country that had persecuted his grandparents 80 years earlier. How had it come to this? Through the story of his family and their migration, Citizens of Everywhere explores identity and belonging in the wake of Brexit and the coronavirus. In doing so,it laments Britain's tragic slide from an open, pluralist haven to a country whose prejudices have led it to turn its back on the European project and engage in an ill-fated, isolationist struggle against an ever more interconnected world. As we enter the third decade of the 21st century, our increasingly layered identities are more complex than ever. The reactionary retreat away frompluralism and towards a nationalistic worldview is perhaps an inevitableresponse - and one that the political class seemed all too ready to exploit,without regard for the consequences. Gumbel's short book will speak to many as he describes how the Britain he knew and loved, that welcomed his ancestors so readily, has taken a wrong turn at the worst possible moment.Trade Review'The thinking person's commuting read' - The Independent;

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Book SynopsisTHIS HEARTBREAKING, HEARTWARMING, TRUE STORY FOLLOWING THE HISTORY OF A FAMILY IN WALES IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS EVER WRITTEN.'I am a proud supporter of our National Health Service which has shown yet again what an important and valued institution it is in the UK. As the first NHS baby through to her work today, Aneira's story shows her dedication and passion for protecting this phenomenal service for future generations.' KEIR STARMER'This book speaks from the heart about a passion to preserve our NHS - as powerful a symbol of goodness as we have. Nye's own experience and that of her family represents our deep need to fight for a society where all are equal in worth and value. And how the NHS stands fast as a symbol of equality, of fairness, and of compassion for all.' MICHAEL SHEEN'Aneira has written a memoir which is a deeply personal, richly researched and incredibly timely tribute to Britain's commitment to provide free and equal healthcare to all.' - DAILY MAIL Book of the Week, 22 May 2020'Moving tribute to the NHS.' - WI Life_____________________________________________________________'Edna,' says the doctor, coming to stand beside her bed. 'You need to wait. It's not long now. Don't push. Just hold on, Edna!'The birth of the National Health Service coincided with the birth of one little girl in South Wales: Aneira 'Nye' Thomas, the first baby delivered by the NHS.This is the touching story of Nye's family - their loves and losses - and the launch of a treasured public service that has touched the lives of every family in the nation.Trade Review'Aneira has written a memoir which is a deeply personal, richly researched and incredibly timely tribute to Britain's commitment to provide free and equal healthcare to all.' - Daily Mail Book of the Week, 22 May 2020'This book speaks from the heart about a passion to preserve our NHS - as powerful a symbol of goodness as we have. Nye's own experience and that of her family represents our deep need to fight for a society where all are equal in worth and value. And how the NHS stands fast as a symbol of equality, of fairness, and of compassion for all.' Michael Sheen'I am a proud supporter of our National Health Service which has shown yet again what an important and valued institution it is in the UK. As the first NHS baby through to her work today, Aneira's story shows her dedication and passion for protecting this phenomenal service for future generations.' Keir Starmer

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Book SynopsisThere is much more to stamps than just a means of paying postage. In the extensive 634 lavishly illustrated pages of her book 'Stamps of Witnesses of History' Ruth Lea lists all the global events that had a stamp made to commemorate them. A must for every philatelist!

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Book SynopsisJoe England explores the possible constitutional meltdown of a divided UK and its consequences, reflecting on Wales' position as the poorest nation of all. As a constitutional crisis looms, this book contemplates a reimagined Wales and what that would mean for its people.

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Book SynopsisIt was a period of Welsh politics that has become etched in the collective memory. The rise of a Welsh independence movement and the first Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament. The Labour Party searching for a way forward in political climate that was riven with dissension and eventual rancour.

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Book SynopsisThis concise book introduces the reader to the law and practice of international commercial arbitration. International arbitration, by its nature, is a complex field due to its scope of geographic application and by reason of the complex issues capable of arising from the intersection of procedural and substantive law. Alongside international commercial arbitration, consideration is given to investment arbitration, the growth of which has been nothing short of phenomenal. Written by three practitioners who also teach, this book addresses matters of procedure, contract, jurisdiction, and enforcement in a manner designed to facilitate easy comprehension. The book is marked by a fresh approach in a well-ploughed field. The authors identify key propositions, explicate each in a one-page essay, and illustrate certain aspects of the proposition in a facing page. Written for students, in-house and government counsel, and practising lawyers, the book seeks to explain matters in a practical way, using examples of legislation and procedural rules from a number of jurisdictions.

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Book SynopsisNo writer in the US today brings together analysis and history as comprehensively and elegantly as Mike Davis. In these contemporary, interventionist essays, Davis goes beyond critique to offer real solutions and concrete possibilities for change.

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Book SynopsisIn dialogue with the dead and living - Nelson Mandela, Mahmoud Darwish, Barack Obama - internationally distinguished South African artist and writer Breyten Breytenbach's new collection of essays traces the collisions between utopia and disaster, political traumas and the renewal of hope.Trade ReviewPraise for Breytenbach's Return to Paradise: "This wonderful book is written with a wild heart and an unrelenting eye, and is fueled by the sort of rage that produces great literature." --The Washington Post "Protean, funny, bitchy, beautifully written and searingly bleak . . . As in all of Mr. Breytenbach's writing, the lyrical pleasures here are intense." --The New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisInside one of the most daring and provocative Black organizations in Brazil of the last two decades, from the perspective of its founders and militants.Rise Up or Die! describes the origins, main concepts, distinct phases, and visions of the future of one of the most innovative, daring, and militant Black organizations in Brazil. Firmly rooted in that country’s long tradition of resistance and rebellion against a nation that depends on the continued hyper-exploitation, dehumanization, abandonment, and social and physical death of Black people, the organization invented what it refers to as “bad manners in Black politics.” If bad manners mean a refusal to abide by expectations of decorum, analysis, collective organization—and indeed the Brazilian genocidal model of racial democracy—then Rise Up certainly fits the description. The organization invented a new political vocabulary, led to the formation of an autonomous Black School in Salvador (the Winnie Mandela School), and constantly attracts people from the most marginalized Black spaces of the largest Black nation in the world, second only to Nigeria. Drawing on a constantly replenished matrix of Black radical traditions, the activists of Rise Up or Die relentlessly pursue invention as the necessary alternative to a social formation that simply hates Black people.

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Book Synopsis“A fantastic list of ways that people can begin to shape change. Artists continue to point the way!” —adrienne maree brown, author of the New York Times Best Seller, Pleasure ActivismAre you feeling fed up with the current political landscape? Over 100 amazing comic artists show you unique actions any one of us can take turn things around. A To Do list for changing the world. Artists share their passion and commitment to make things better in this fun and engaging collection. From simple ideas like signing a petition or going on a march, to more imaginative ones like becoming a 'raging granny' (old ladies who use their innocuous looks to gain entry into places like board meetings or arms fairs, and then create havoc). Many things can be done immediately, with little or no money at all. Others require a bit more planning. But all of them are steps that anyone can take if they want to enact change.Trade Review“This would make a nifty gift for a progressive-minded recent graduate, or a motivational charge-up for anyone looking to start fresh with best intentions. . . . A cheerful and practical list of progressive to-do items. The mix of diverse art styles supports the book’s message that wide-scale change must be a community effort, with single-page comics and illustrations created by 106 artists from 16 countries, including known names such as Lucy Knisley, Dave McKean, Sarah Mirk, Bishakh Som, and Jim Terry along with newcomers.” —Publishers Weekly“A fantastic list of ways that people can begin to shape change. Artists continue to point the way!” —adrienne maree brown, author of the New York Times Best Seller, Pleasure Activism “One of the truly brilliant comics of our time. It shows, with splendid art, just what people can do to save the world in all its wonders, from destruction, and to re-create their own lives in the process.” —Paul Buhle, editor of Wobblies! and Howard Zinn's A People’s History of American Empire “An indispensable resource that squashes the old excuse ‘I don’t know how to help.’ ”—Ezra Claytan Daniels, author of Upgrade Soul “Now I know what to do! A variety of graphic styles and media motivates readers to take up the challenge. One worth meeting when you hold such a vibrant guide in your hands. Pass it on to everyone you know!” —Glynnis Fawkes, author of Persephone’s Garden “Really engaging! A delightful collection of cartoonists tackling important issues and ideas.” —Joel Christian Gill, author of Fights “A picture truly is worth a thousand words. The book offers a global lineup of talent, and no matter what one’s capabilities are, the book suggests a host of choices, for individuals, families, educators, and activist groups.” —Karen Green, Curator for Comics and Cartoons, Columbia University “These irresistible bite-sized ideas add up to an explosion of hope.” —Sabrina Jones, author of Our Lady of Birth Control “Despair is not a revolutionary emotion. The radical approach leads to action. This book invites each of us to become a hero and to build a better world. That’s a great place to start!” —Seth Tobocman, author of The Face of Struggle and founder of the magazine World War 3 Illustrated

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Book SynopsisA powerful and impassioned collection of essays on the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, writtenin real time during the annihilation by a leading scholar of Islamophobia. All the world's eyes are now on Gaza and Palestine. Arab and Muslim-American law scholar and author Khaled A. Beydoun shares his expertise and his perspective on the conflict in essays he wrote during the year following October 2023, accompanied by over sixty pieces of art created by Palestinian political cartoonist, Mohammad Sabaaneh during the same time period. Since October of 2023, the world has been watching as a horrific siege has been waged in Gaza. A devastating bombing campaign carried out by the Israeli military in response to a Hamas attack on Israeli civilians. We have witnessed the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, and our hearts are breaking. Eyes on Gaza is Khaled A. Beydoun's attempt to process what we have been seeing. Beydoun opens our eyes to the historic events and the political motivations which impact the decision making of the leaders involved, as he shares his own story and his father's story as Arab Muslims in America. He offers his expert perspective on events as they have unfolded. This book combines personal narrative, contemporary history, and thoughtful reporting to shine a light on the horror in Palestine today.

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