Subjects:  1. General    2. International Relations - General    3. International relations    4. Political Science    5. Politics - Current Events    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Political Science / General    9. Political science & theory   

Reviews (36)

Just okay...
This book could have been good, but it's too long and too repetitive, the subject matter is very interesting, but the story gets retold a thousand times and it's just not very entertaining or insightful for that matter.
Review of Murakami's "Underground"
Murakami's analysis of the Tokyo Sarin Attack is exactly the kind needed to understand all terrorism occuring in the world today.A great antidote to main-stream media's simplistic "us vs. them" morality tale description of terrorism.For concerned citizens of the post-9/11 world, I strongly recommend this book, together with Erich Fromm's "Fear of Freedom".

And now for something completely different.
What is different about Haruki Murakami's Underground? For one, it is non-fiction. The novelist has put aside his imaginative pen and focused closely on the actual events that unfolded ten years ago when terrorists from the Aum Shinrikyo cult carried poisonous packets of sarin on board the Tokyo subway during the morning rush hour. Readers familiar with Murakami's work will find none of the speculative creation he is so well known for. But they will still find his gift for delving into the lives of ordinary people faced with the unimaginable.
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Subjects:  1. Cults    2. Current Affairs    3. International    4. Japan    5. Oumu Shinrikyo (Religious org    6. Oumu Shinrikyo (Religious orga    7. Oumu ShinrikyÃ¥o (Religious organization)    8. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    9. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    10. Political Terrorism    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Terrorism    14. Contemporary non-Christian cults & sects    15. History / Japan    16. True crime   

Reviews (6)

Harvard Revisionism
According to this author Communism and the Soviet Union was brought down because of one man.Although a lot of people give credit to one man the man he lists is not the one.Apparently Reagan is just a footnote in the fall of communism because he barely gets a mention in the fall of communism chapter.
Good Detail of Topics Relating to International Politics
I had to purchase this book as a second book for a class I had taken.This book helped cover many of the topics I had to study and this book did a better job of describing several topics relating to nationalism, imperialism history of international politics, foreign policies, international law and organization and human factors in international politics.I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to learn the basics or even get more indepth details on certain topics of international politics.

An interesting book indeed
An interesting book indeed, written by an excellent writer who took me in a journey through history beginning with the Peloponnesian war and passing through world war one and two and the cold war after that, and ending with the new world order.Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. General    3. International Relations - General    4. International relations    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. War (International law)    9. World politics    10. Armed conflict    11. Political Science / General    12. Political science & theory   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (4)

States of Denial - setting the record straight
This review is in response to the offensive one posted on this website. Clearly the reviewer who rated this excellent book with one star and made what I regard as slanderous comments about the professionalism of one of the most illuminating thinkers of our time, is driven by ideological objection to Cohen's analysis.
Reader from London--Should Read London Papers
States of Denial: Knowing About Atrocities and Suffering by Stanley Cohen was awarded the 2002 British Academy Book Prize. I didn't know I knew what I didn't know
This is one of those "it should be required reading" books. Although his emphasis is on the larger mass atrocities and sufferings, Cohen examines denial from the personal to the political, from harmless "I'm not eating as many cookies as I really am," to the most horrendous "It's not torture; it's just heavy pressure" to the apathetic, "Gee, 5000 Ruwandans killed this week; I wonder how the Giants did last night." He concisely reviews the explanations of denial--Freudian, cognitive, etc--and neatly identifies the different types, styles, motives and cultural and personal collusions. Cohen's writing is clean, engaging, to the point, neither tediously over-intellectual nor patronzing, obviously well-researched and professional. He assumes his reader is familiar with basic social and political sciences and history and doesn't belabor points others have made. Most importantly, the book is compassionate, not in a gooey, all-is- forgiven and understood sense, but in its acknowledgement of denial as a universal of human behavior. Cohen handles an uncomfortable subject, not knowing what we know, a behavior of which we are all guilty, in a straight-forward, non-accusatory fashion. One has the sense that Cohen has not only being willing to see what goes on in a way that few have the courage to do, but that he has also refused to see, as we all do, and come to terms with his own denials, that his fastination with denial is not only as an observer but as a participant as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Current Affairs    3. Defense mechanisms (Psychology)    4. Denial (Psychology)    5. Government - Comparative    6. International    7. Social aspects    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - General    10. Suffering    11. ATROCITIES    12. Behavioural theory (Behaviourism)    13. CRUELTY    14. Illness & addiction: social aspects    15. Political oppression & persecution    16. Psychology & Psychiatry / Personality    17. Violence in society   

Reviews (20)

A first rate book on Afghanistan
Kaplan is an American journalist who made several trips into Afghanistan during the time that the Soviet Union had occupied Afghanistan and was intent on turning Afghanistan into a communist country.
zzzzzz...
As a college student, I am required certain books for my history class.The firsthand account books I have read this semester have been very enjoyable (Kaffir Boy & Son of the Revolution).However, even though Soldiers of God is a firsthand account of Robert Kaplan traveling in Afghanistan & Pakistan during the Soviet invasion & occupation, it was one of the most boring books I have ever read.I could barely read 3 pages without beginning to doze off.The action is limited and sporadic and the commentary is less than stellar.If you are looking for another Kaffir Boy this book is not the one to pick.

Very Good
Great book about the Russian-Afghan War and preread to Taliban by Ahmed Rashid.Very good read for anyone wanting to know about Central Asian/Afghan history and Afghan/Pakistani relations of recent years. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afghanistan    2. American Journalism    3. Biography    4. Current Affairs    5. History    6. International    7. International Relations - General    8. Islam - General    9. Islam - History    10. Journalists    11. Kaplan, Robert D.,    12. Middle East - History    13. Personal narratives    14. Political    15. Politics / Current Events    16. Politics/International Relations    17. Soviet occupation, 1979-1989    18. United States    19. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    20. History / Military / General    21. Journeys    22. Kaplan, Robert D    23. Middle East    24. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    25. Sociology, Social Studies    26. USA    27. Warfare & Defence    28. International relations    29. Current Events   

Editorial Review

Robert Kaplan warns of a "bifurcated world divided between societies like ours, producing goods and services that the rest of the world wants, and those mired in various forms of chaos." This is a familiar theme for previous Kaplan readers (Read more

Reviews (73)

Anarchy Has Arrived
Robert D. Kaplan is a triple threat, not only is he an excellent writer, but a seasoned, canny traveler, and a man possessing the mind of the highest-level foreign policy think-tank specialist.Those gurus all shut up in basements in the Pentagon wargaming out scenarios haven't hitchhiked through the most dangerous corners of the globe on nothing more than rice cakes and cunning.In fact it is Kaplan that those gurus are reading in order to formulate policy."The Coming Anarchy" is a good introduction to Kaplan, nine substantial essays that visit global poverty, crime, tribalism, the slide of American democracy, the relevance of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall" applied to the former USSR, and the dangers of long peaceful periods in a technological society.
The Grumpy and Misinformed American
The first fifteen pages of Mr. Kaplan's book are nothing but unabashed nonsense.Mr. Kaplan takes on West Africa from behind his windscreen as he drives from seemingly every airport in West Africa to his luxury hotel in the safe and thank God air conditioned areas of the dark continent.Kaplan's comments on West Africa are laughable.Having lived in West Africa for a good part of my life, I have heard such similiar analysis and comments to Kaplan's on Africa and Africans from racist bigots who never bothered to get out of their car or learn the simplest greetings in an African language."Oh my, the filth, regardez ca la crasse, comme meme..."From Mr. Kaplan's analysis, West Africa is going to hell, there is no stopping it. Sierra Leone is basically brushed off the face of the map and Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria are soon to follow.Mr. Kaplan knows this because he got caught in a few traffic jams in West Africa and all he could see were beggers, young ruffians, trash and some person urinating against a wall.Yeah, it is troublesome to see the conditions in many West African capitals, but really, to then assume that these peoples are bordering on anarchy and will rush to Europe and the USA to destroy what we have.Please.The other articles in the book look dated even a few years after Mr. Kaplan wrote them.Nice reading, but hard to overcome Mr. Kaplan's colonial mindset, especially in of all places West Africa, where the lingustic, artistic, and cultural wealth is simply overwhelming; a place that is part of the world's wealth of languages and with sincerely fantastic individuals. Yeah a few area boys or gangs are in the mix, mais alors?

Can't Describe Color to the Blind
Having grown up in Asia and as an adult worked in various countries, I have to say this man knows what he is talking about.Although I don't agree with him on everything, my travels and experiences had pretty much shown me the same thing long before I had heard of his book.Some of the people outraged by his ideas are clearly viewing the world through an overlay of their political agenda/wishful thinking.One reviewer was miffed by the author's understanding that some peoples simply aren't cut out culturally for democracy.I can personally vouch for this view.Some may take offense at this, but here is an example:watch a bunch of arabs try to agree on something other than religious fanaticism.The ignorant have the notion that everybody is "just like us deep down".WRONG!And thank god for those differences, as that is what makes humans interesting.Another reviewer was offended that in the author's approach to dealing with crime, he didn't recognize the causes such as poverty and lack of education.This same reviewer conveniently ignored other causes, such as ineffective social programs supposedly designed to help the poor that in fact promulgate the very same conditions in which crime breeds (remember all the deer that starved to death in the '60s because the animal lovers had the "evil" wolves killed off?).This serves to prove the author's contentions that those with some holy cause to help the unfortunates are often their worst enemies.Sorry, but what the author is talking about is a way to achieve results, useless good intentions be damned, and he states as much in the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Current Affairs    2. History & Theory - General    3. International    4. Modern - 20th Century    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Post-Communism    8. Political Science / International Relations   

Reviews (5)

all style and no substance
it's sad that so many students seem to be attracted to "Essentials of International Relations" due to its prose and organization, because its substance is pitiful.I had the displeasure of serving as a Teaching Assistant for a freshman-level course that used this text and could not believe the number of inaccuracies, misleading statements, contradictions, and outright flaws.
Great Book
This is a Handbook for anybody who wishes to understand the basics of international relations. it gives all the theory aproaches and the cases. basically it gives all the necesary tools to understand today world.

Easy read but not truly balanced
I assigned the text for a survey course on IR after a previous class found Baylis & Smith to be too difficult to absorb in a 10-week term.Positive elements of Mingst include logical organization, concise and enjoyable writing style, and clear definitions of core concepts.However:
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Subjects:  1. International Relations - General    2. International relations    3. Political Science    4. Politics - Current Events    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations   

Reviews (40)

Will make you fume
The French connection: How France was arming Iraq all the way up until we went to war. They have also helped other rogue states with "dual use equipment".And of course "Oil for Food".
Useful but Hypocritcal

Important Information to Prepare Us For the Future.
It's no secret that the United States aided Iraq during their war with Iran in the '80s in retaliation for the hostage situation in which Americans were held for 444 days in 1979, and the major need of oil facilities located in Iran.In the twelve years between the Persian Gulf War (called Desert Storm) and the 2003 Iraq war, Saddam Hussein flouted United Nations sanctions to show that his regime would not be held accountable to any international standard of behavior.The United Nations imposed sanctions on Iraq in 1991."Many anti-American critics have accused the United States of building up Saddam's military in the 1980s, meaning that American forces went up against U.S. weapons technology in the 1991 Persian Gulf War."However, the Iraqi arsenal was mostly equipped with Russian, French, and Chinese weapons.
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Subjects:  1. 1995-2005    2. 21st century    3. General    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. History    6. Illegal arms transfers    7. International Relations - Arms Control    8. National security    9. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    10. Political Science    11. Politics - Current Events    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Politics/International Relations    14. United States    15. World politics    16. Current Events / International   

Reviews (1)

A thorough but dry and repetitive analysis
Although After Capitalism examines the inherent flaws in modern state capitalism with exhaustive thoroughness, the book is exceedingly boring; the crushing machine of our hierarchical society is described with the sort of prose you'd find in an instruction manual for assembling a desk.This might be excusable (it is, after all, an economic treatise) if Melman managed to turn his critique into a map for a society after capitalism but the book never quite seems to get there.There are vague and repetitive references to attempts by workers to "disalienate" themselves but Melman never explores the workers' efforts with the sort of detail he reserves for outlining the architecture of the Military-Industrial Complex.In all, the book was informative but I'm certain there are tomes out there that manage to portray a more evocative vision of a postcapitalist world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Capitalism    2. Current Affairs    3. Economic Systems    4. Employee participation    5. Free Enterprise    6. History & Theory - General    7. Industrial management    8. International    9. Management    10. Political Ideologies - Democracy    11. Politics - Current Events    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Politics/International Relations    14. State And Industrial Organization    15. United States    16. Current Events / International   

Editorial Review

As soon as you hear the conceit of this book--that there are two great opposing forces at work in the world today, border-crossing capitalism and splintering factionalism, and that they are the two biggest threats to democracy--you know it rings true enough to be worth reading. Although capitalism could have only grown to current levels in the soil of democracies, Benjamin Barber argues that global capitalism now tends to work against the very concept of citizenship, of people thinking for themselves and with their neighbors.Too often now, how we think is the product of a transnational corporation (increasingly, a media corporation) with headquarters elsewhere. And although self-determination is one of the most fundamental of democratic principles, unchecked it has lead to a tribalism (think Bosnia, think Rwanda) in which virtually no one besides the local power elite gets a fair shake. The antidote, Barber concludes, is to work everywhere to resuscitate the non-governmental, non-business spaces in life--he calls them "civic spaces" (such as the village green, voluntary associations of every sort, churches, community schools)--where true citizenship thrives. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

The unity between religious fundamentalists and big business elites EXPOSED !
It's amazing how despite all the tragedies and wars, big business elitists are able to cash in on the damage while religious fundamentalists never get caught, much less held accountable. The idiots who show their hate of this book are from terrorist nations that have a knack of socializing poverty and terrorism while at the same time privatizing wealth. Despite all the big talk about winning the so-called war on terrorism, the ugly truth is wars have not taught us anything. If it weren't for Big Business funding Hitler, Hitler would have had a harder time killing the Jews. Sadly though, even after World War II ended, the Big Business elites that funded and continue to fund dictatorships like Hitler, Stalin, and the modern ones are not only not held accountable but often end up walking away as "heroes". If we're really going to win the war on terrorism and/or poverty, we're going to have to stop supporting big business elite and stop allowing our uber-corrupt politicians from exploiting peoples fears on terrorism even while maximizing poverty.

An Important but Very Flawed Work on Socio-Economics
I tried to embrace this book--I really did. It was tempting to want to have at last found a piece of academic writing that deftly encapsulates and explains this clash of titans: jihad and globalism. Barber's main title is, however, more tantalizing than explanatory. This book demonstrates the dangers of allegiance to dichotomies; there are other forces at work in society that grapple with the headline-stealing titans.
Provactative but lacking in substance.
I read Barber's book in 1995, shortly after my return from my dissertation research in Indonesia.I was dismayed but what were clear errors in Barber's treatment of Indonesia.He talks about the marketing succes of Coke to sell the sweet syrupy beverage as a substitute to the more "native" tea.What he fails to see is for many if not most ethnic groups of Indonesia tea is served very sweet -- with what I hyperbolically refer to as "equal parts sugar and water."He also bemoan Indonesians taking up blue jeans in favor of saris.Saris?I know of no Indonesians who wear saris -- this is a garment better associated with India.Ok, I know these are perhaps trifiling errors.However, Barbers evidence is composed exclusively of little vignettes and reference like this.I do not know of the accuracy of his specific examples for other countries.However, if the problem he has with understanding the basic facts of Indonesian culture are replicated through all his examples, the argument he tries to support by them must be suspect.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Capitalism    3. Democracy    4. General    5. International Relations - General    6. Modern - 20th Century    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Social history    9. Social values    10. Sociology    11. Current Events / International    12. Holy war    13. Islam   

Reviews (10)

Great Book, yet Biased
Man, the State, and War breaks down the levels of analysis of international relations.He also gives theoretical analysis compared with scientific analysis on each "level of analysis."The chapters are easily readable and it is a very fast read.The book is very good at describing the different views of the different political thinkers on each level of analysis and their scientific counterparts.Yet, the scientific anthropological-sociological-biological-psychological explanations are very old and outdated.This book would use an update for today's world and the new findings of modern science.
There's a reason it's a classic
This asks some of the most important questions in political science.This was the book that launched Waltz's career, and it remains the most important book he has written.His question of war and his depressing conclusions are actually secondary to his method.He philosophically examines the question from three different angles in an inciteful and useful way.While some of it may seem obvious now, it wasn't in the 50s, and while it can be daunting to anyone without a background in philosophy and political science, it is a seminal work.Every scholar should take a look from different angles as Waltz has done.

An International Relations giant trying his hand at theory
This is a strange little book. Written early in the academic career of Ken Waltz, this is essentially a political theory text written by an international relations giant. Alas, it sometimes reads like it. The prose is fine, but conceptually, its arguments are fairly simple and straightforward. In that sense it is ideal for the novice or an intro level class. For those with a more thorough background in the subject, three things are of particular interest. First, the clash (re the "First Image") between Waltz the neo-realist and his chosen foil--Hans Morgenthau. How viciously the young turn on their own! Second, Waltz's idiosyncratic reading of Rousseau as an exemplar of early realism. Third, the path from this text to his masterpiece, "The Theory of International Politics". Given Waltz's skewering of theorizing from the first image (man's problematic nature) and second image (regime type and behavior), the path is made clear to his systems-level approach. On the whole this book is an enjoyable read, but hardly an intellectual tour-de-force. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Theory - General    3. International relations    4. Philosophy    5. Politics / Current Events    6. State, The    7. War    8. Political Science / History & Theory    9. Political science & theory    10. Social & political philosophy    11. Warfare & Defence    12. World history   

Editorial Review

If Read more

Reviews (31)

Complex But Wonderful Nonetheless
The book is written in a very complex style -- especially the sections where Lessig goes into the nitty gritty of the architecture behind the Internet -- but the book is a wonderful read, especially for those who come from the mindset that copyright laws should serve to give full control to the creator. While Lessig's style is unnecessarily complex, the book is ultimately worth the effort -- especially for Internet enthusiasts and entrepreneurs who need to understand the implications of copyright laws and how they affect culture and future ideas.

Important book for IP lawyers and internet architects
This is the best of Lessig's books that I've read so far.Lessig is one of the more articulate spokespersons for the movement to protect the public domain, which includes such groups as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Creative Commons, etc., although he may be more moderate in his views than some. From whence comes invention?
Ultimately, the flaw in Lessig's books is his belief that the revolution of personal computing and the internet are the products of intellectuals like himself.Undermining the freedom and property rights of the programmers and companies who really invented these marvels is a profound threat to one of America's most vital and creative industries. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Communications    2. Current Affairs    3. Intellectual Property - General    4. International    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Impact of science & technology on society    8. Intellectual property, copyright & patents    9. Law / Intellectual Property    10. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    11. Social issues    12. USA   

Reviews (2)

Top-notch advice
Dr. Woodson has prepared this detailed guide, sprinkled with stress-breaking humour, to help families prepare for, and recover from, a pandemic.As hospitals will be overwhelmed in the event of a pandemic, the only sure way for a family member to receive medical treatment is for another family member (or friend) to be prepared to apply the techniques Woodson lays out in detailed but readable fashion.As importantly, the psychological stresses people will face in such a situation are also addressed in layman's terms.In addition, Woodson discusses some of the approaches to mitigating the possibilty of utility failure, food shortages, civil unreset, sanitation, and other crucial areas that we take for granted in today's advanced civilization.If you are looking for references to help you in your preparations, consider this to be one of the most important.
The medical advice in this book will save many lives.
The 300 page Bird Flu Manual will save many lives.All of the world's top scientists and public health professionals agree that another flu pandemic is inevitable.This book should be read by anyone that wants to be prepared for that inevitable event.In this well researched book Dr. Woodson has sifted through all the scientific sources on the Bird Flu and on pandemic flu in general and presents them in a clear and rational way.He paints a picture of what life would be like during both a severe or minor pandemic based on research into previous pandemics.
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Subjects:  1. Current Events / International    2. Grattan Woodson, MD, bird flu, pandemic, influenza, flu, medical treatment, home treatment, water purification, alternative energy, emergency preparedness, Tamiflu, Relenza, vaccination, H5N1, food storage   

Reviews (39)

Incredible tale!
This is an incredible story of the June 7, 1981, operation that took out Saddam Hussein's nuclear reactor and, as a result, probably alone kept him from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
WHO ARE THESE?
I picked this up having tried to find something to read that was substantive, historical but that was not too dry and long (many pages).I read this quickly one weekend, was a page turner.Seems very relevant today given what some rogue nations are planning these days.
A Fascinating Story Limited by Constant Errors
This account of Operation Babalyon is a fascinating story of the people and circumstances that lead to Isreal's decision to bomb the Iraqi nuclear reactor.The author, Roger Claire, states that he had extensive contact with the pilots and the various decision makers involved in the operation.
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Subjects:  1. Arab-Israeli conflict    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Iraq    6. Middle East - General    7. Middle East - History    8. Middle East - Israel    9. Military - Intelligence/Espionage    10. Military - Nuclear Warfare    11. Military - Other    12. Military History (General)    13. Nuclear reactors    14. Osirak Nuclear Reactor Bombing    15. Osirak Nuclear Reactor Bombing, Iraq, 1981    16. Current Events / International    17. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (2)

Highly recommended- (ALL ROYALTIES GO TO OXFAM!)
This is an excellent collection of essays by one of the most important intellectual figures in the international human rights arena. An engaging combination of philosophical, political, and economic analysis, World Poverty and Human Rights offers a fresh perspective on the problems facing our world as well as constructive steps we all can (and indeed have an obligation to) take to mitigate and one day end global poverty and social injustice. Pogge has a very impressive background in philosophy (he received his PhD under Rawls from Harvard) and his writings reflect the clarity of thought and cogent argumentation his subject matter deserve. And if that isn't incentive enough, remember that all proceeds go to support Oxfam UK.

Interesting argument, but too "Ivory Tower" for practicality
In a collection of essays on so broad a scope as Pogge's World Poverty and Human Rights it's difficult to narrow topics of possible discussion down to effectively address all aspects of Pogge's presented philosophy.I found Pogge's text extremely helpful in that it brought with it a wholly unique approach to looking at the issues we're faced unique aspect presented is the strong use of illustrative examples in the text, not in the fashion of Farmer's narratives of suffering and injustices in a world thought by many to be beyond that but realized by a few of us to still have a long way to go.This is also somewhat in contrast to Sen (Development as Freedom) who relied largely on definitions, but between the two I found Pogge's examples facts and figures to be much more moving as a call to action than was Sen's, if for shock value alone if nothing else.