An Army Like No Other: How the Israeli Defence Forces Made a Nation by Haim Bresheeth Žabner provides a thought-provoking and comprehensive exploration of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and its profound impact on Israeli society and the nation’s history. As the child of Holocaust survivors who settled in Palestine in 1948, Žabner offers a unique perspective.

Initially embracing the Zionist agenda, Žabner became disillusioned during his conscription into the IDF in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Serving in the Golan Heights, he witnessed disturbing war crimes committed by the IDF.

The book delves into Israel’s formation, the establishment of the IDF, and the role of Zionist settler-colonialism and violence in asserting and expanding Israeli power. Žabner’s historical analysis highlights the foundation of Zionism on anti-Semitism and explores how Israeli society accepts the Zionist narrative through crucial roles played by schools, communities, and the IDF.

The book traces the origins of the IDF, connecting it with Zionist paramilitaries like the Palmach and Haganah, and emphasizes how impunity for actions like the Nakba became ingrained in Israeli settler-colonial society. Žabner underscores the integral role of military violence in any settler-colonial project, arguing that it is the linchpin without which such endeavors would be impossible.

However, it’s important to note that the book is not a military history but rather a social history of Israel through the IDF. The author identifies the IDF as the most constant institution in Israel’s 75-year history, receiving 96 percent of Jewish support.

Expanding on this premise, Žabner argues that the IDF is not only a formidable fighting force but also the core ideological, political, and financial institution of Israeli society. The IDF’s influence permeates every facet of Israeli life, emerging as one of the nation’s most profitable and influential industries. It is the institutionalized legacy envisioned by Ben-Gurion to create the Israeli nation and society, as he believed ‘the whole nation is the army.’

The book also emphasizes the racialized experiences of Palestinian citizens of Israel, who have historically faced inequalities and disenfranchisement, including living under a military government for the first two decades of Israel’s existence.

Challenging Israeli claims of being “Jewish and democratic,” Žabner argues that Israel has become a fully-fledged apartheid state, both in practice and de jure, drawing parallels with South Africa. The book examines how racist legislation has institutionalized legal apartheid, reinforcing the antidemocratic nature of the settler-colonial regime.

Adding a left-wing perspective, Žabner critiques liberal Zionists who argue for a “humane” or “liberal” Zionism, contending that such positions deny the inherent inequalities within the Zionist project. He challenges the narrative of equality propagated by liberal Zionism, asserting that it serves as a cover for actions violating human rights and international law.

In conclusion, An Army Like No Other provides an eye-opening examination of the IDF and its role in shaping Israel. Žabner’s work challenges conventional assumptions about true peace in the region, calling for a reevaluation of these notions from an informed historical perspective.

Haim Bresheeth Žabner, An Army Like No Other: How the Israeli Defence Forces Made a Nation (Verso, 2020) ISBN: 9781788737845, 448 pages

Australian journalist Antony Loewenstein’s groundbreaking book, The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World, offers a chilling exposé of Israel’s military-industrial complex and its sinister role in perfecting and exporting oppressive technologies developed through the prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories. For over half a century, the West Bank and Gaza have served as a testing ground for weaponry, surveillance tools, and control mechanisms, solidifying Israel’s position as a global leader in the military-techno complex.

Loewenstein takes readers on a riveting journey through a clandestine world, backed by secret documents, revealing interviews, and on-the-ground reporting. The book unveils, for the first time, the meticulous architecture of control that Israel has honed through surveillance, home demolitions, and brutality, evolving from the occupation of Palestinian lands. 

From the notorious Pegasus software implicated in high-profile hacks to the weapons supplied to oppressive regimes like Myanmar, Israel’s technological prowess is exposed as a driving force behind some of the world’s most brutal conflicts. A striking example is the use of Israeli drones by the EU and Frontex, battle-tested in Palestine, for surveillance and border control, particularly in response to the refugee crisis after 2015. 

The author skillfully connects the dots, illustrating how Israel’s ethno-nationalistic approach has become a global model, influencing governments such as Modi’s in India where admiration for Israel’s actions in the West Bank influences their approach in regions like Kashmir. Loewenstein highlights the alarming rise of Israel as a major player in spying technology and defense hardware, revealing the dark underbelly of its contributions to the violation of human rights on a global scale.

The book further unmasks the ruthlessness with which Israel leverages the experiences gained from an illegal occupation. It argues that Israel has successfully exported its tested technologies and methods to over 130 countries worldwide. This includes the sale of spyware, smart walls, facial recognition tools, and other tools of occupation and repression. The book serves as a stark reminder of how Israel’s oppression of Palestinians has become the cornerstone of its military and security industries.

Moreover, The Palestine Laboratory sheds light on Israel’s questionable alliances, exposing its support for despots worldwide. Over the past 50 years, the U.S. and Israel have formed close partnerships, with Israel serving as an invaluable partner in arming and training nations that the U.S. officially couldn’t support due to various restraints.

Citizenship, a pivotal determinant influencing various facets of our lives, dictates our rights, travel privileges, and, fundamentally, our life prospects. While the process of obtaining a new citizenship poses a formidable challenge for many, for the affluent, including numerous anonymous multimillionaires, the pursuit is often reduced to a matter of price. With sufficient financial resources and the right connections, one can navigate negotiations for citizenship in various places.

In her comprehensive work, The Golden Passport: Global Mobility for Millionaires, Kristin Surak, Associate Professor of Political Sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science, delves into the expanding global market for citizenship, conducting an exhaustive examination of the dynamics surrounding the acquisition and sale of passports and citizenship. Her meticulous on-the-ground investigation sheds light on the intricate network involving wealthy elites, states, and brokers, revealing the transformation of a once clandestine practice into a prevalent and significant phenomenon.

Beyond exploring the less scrupulous practices of the affluent, Surak delves into Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs. These programs offer a transparent and expeditious route to citizenship, requiring a defined financial investment that is within reach of anyone who can afford it. Notably, these programs adhere to legal processes that undergo thorough scrutiny and due diligence procedures. But is this too good to be true?

Drawing from six years of extensive fieldwork across four continents, Surak unveils the evolution of passport sales from a dubious enterprise to a thriving citizenship industry concentrated in over a dozen countries, particularly small islands in regions like the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South Pacific. She systematically breaks down the diverse motivations behind these investments and identifies trends within the industry.

The annual issuance of citizenship to 50,000 individuals underscores the magnitude of this global phenomenon. Individuals opt for these schemes for various reasons, including:

Global Mobility: Seeking increased visa-free travel options for business, leisure, or personal reasons.

Business Opportunities: Opening new avenues for international trade and investment.

Political and Economic Stability: Mitigating risks associated with political or economic instability.

Education and Healthcare: Accessing superior education and healthcare systems.

Tax Planning: Exploring more favorable tax environments and managing tax liabilities.

Personal Security: Ensuring personal safety amid security concerns in the home country.

Diversification of Assets: Viewing a second citizenship as a strategy to diversify personal and financial assets.

Quality of Life: Enhancing overall quality of life through better living standards and improved social services.

Embarking on a reflective journey through the memories and heirlooms passed down through generations within one’s family can lead to a profound exploration of the historical narrative embedded in one’s heritage.

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi, a distinguished US historian of the Middle East, stands as a monumental account, representing the first comprehensive history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from an explicitly Palestinian perspective. Khalidi’s familial connection to the history of the region adds a personal and unique dimension to his groundbreaking narrative.

In crafting this extraordinary work, Khalidi draws on a wealth of archival materials and firsthand accounts from his eminent family members, including mayors, judges, scholars, diplomats, and journalists. This meticulous approach not only adds originality and depth to the book but also imparts an authoritative touch to the narrative.

The journey through time commences in 1899 with a poignant letter from Yusuf Diya al-Khalidi, the mayor of Jerusalem and the great-great-uncle of the author. In this letter, al-Khalidi warns Zionist founder Theodore Herzl about the perilous consequences of the Zionist movement’s ambition to establish a Jewish national home in Palestine.

This moment, according to Khalidi, serves as the prologue to the prevailing Zionist narrative, marked by the dismissal of indigenous populations and their interests as inconsequential. Khalidi provides a meaningful reflection on this letter, offering his unique and authentic perspective.

Weaving together personal history with pivotal events that have shaped the conflict, Khalidi challenges conventional interpretations that frame the Israeli-Palestinian conflict merely as a tragic clash of competing nationalisms. Instead, he unfolds a narrative of colonial warfare waged against the Palestinians, underscoring its underappreciated centrality to the issue.

This colonial campaign, initiated by the Zionist movement and later endorsed by the state of Israel with the support of influential global powers, including Britain and the United States, becomes a focal point of Khalidi’s analysis.

Born out of a lecture on the ‘deal of the century’, Palestine: Matters of Truth and Justice offers a thought-provoking analysis of the Palestine-Israel conflict, settler colonialism, occupation, and the issue of Palestinian nationhood. In the book, prominent scholar Azmi Bishara advocates for a justice-based approach and makes the important distinction of approaching the issue at hand with objectivity rather than neutrality.

Palestine: Matters of Truth and Justice is composed of two parts; First is a historical account and reflections on history, and the second addresses the Trump-Netanyahu deal, the concepts of settler colonialism and apartheid, and the question as to what comes next in the future.

The book begins by emphasizing the significance of the Nakba (Palestinian Catastrophe), not merely as a historical context but a central element in understanding the ongoing issue. Bishara delves into the Nakba’s impact and its symbolic importance. The book highlights the core problem as settler colonialism, which involved occupation, expropriation, ethnic cleansing, and the displacement of the native population to establish a Jewish state.

When examining the Trump-Netanyahu deal, Bishara highlights the economic and political incentives and alliances that influenced it. He addresses the embrace of religious Zionism in the Trump administration and its role in the deal, and underscores how regional governments have sought to sideline the Palestinian cause and normalize relations with Israel.

The book concludes by discussing potential future strategies for the Palestinian struggle. Bishara indentifies that the task ahead is not ultimately theoretical and abstract but also practical and strategic- depending on a number of factors including political actors, the strength of resistance and the nature of international order.

In summary, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical context, complexities, and possible paths forward in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the significance of justice as a fundamental aspect of resolution.

The book comes as a valuable source following the escalation on October 7 that developed into a humanitarian crisis with Israel’s heavy bombardment in Gaza. As an urgent path to longlasting peace is needed, Palestine: Matters of Justice and Truth may offer some answers.

Azmi Bishara, Palestine: Matters of Justice and Truth (Hurst Publishers, 2022) ISBN: 9781787387102, 360 pages

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ecolonization is a multifaceted and transformative process which has left an indelible mark on the course of modern history. Emerging in the wake of the Second World War, it signaled a seismic shift in the global landscape as nations across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean reclaimed their autonomy from the grasp of colonial powers. This epochal phenomenon was not merely a political or territorial change; it was a profound reconfiguration of identities, cultures, economies, and societies.

At its core, decolonization was a rebellion against the unjust and oppressive systems of colonial rule that had prevailed for centuries. It was a response to the exploitative economic structures, cultural hegemony, and political subjugation that defined the colonial experience. Yet, this once  vital and necessary struggle for self-determination and freedom from Western colonial dominance, has, in recent times, taken a curious and unsettling turn.

In his thought-provoking book Against Decolonisation: Taking African Agency Seriously, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, a leading African political philosopher, takes a critical stance on the contemporary trajectory of decolonization, arguing that it has deviated from its original purpose. He makes an important distinction between the past and present trajectory of decolonization; The very ideals that once fueled the fight for independence have undergone a transformation, morphing into a vague and all-encompassing concept.

The unintended consequences of this shift, he argues, demand our attention. Táíwò asserts that decolonization has become a convenient tool for virtue signaling, ultimately stifling African intellectual thought and eroding African agency.

Táíwò’s main contention is that the term ‘decolonization’ has been applied indiscriminately to fields ranging from literature, language, and philosophy to sociology, psychology, and medicine. While this expansion has allowed for critical examination, it has also given rise to a complex and sometimes contentious debate.

Táíwò’s intervention in this discourse is a powerful and much-needed one. He questions whether today’s notion of ‘decolonization’ genuinely serves the empowerment of Africans or if it has been co-opted for other agendas. He calls for a reevaluation of the treatment of African intellectuals that should be recognized as innovative adapters and synthesizers of ideas they have always regarded as universally relevant. He aims to shed light on the delicate balance between rectifying historical wrongs and respecting the intellectual agency and creativity of African voices.

Against Decolonisation: Taking African Agency Seriously offers a bold and critical perspective on the current state of decolonization. It is an intervention that prompts readers to reconsider the genuine objectives and consequences of the decolonization movement, advocating for a more nuanced and respectful approach to African intellectual contributions.

Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Against Decolonisation: Taking African Agency Seriously (Hurst Publishers,2022) ISBN: 9781787386921, 368 pages

Ilan Pappe’s remarkable work, Ten Myths about Israel, takes a fearless approach to scrutinizing the contested ideas surrounding the origins and identity of the contemporary state of Israel while offering a critical examination of the past, the present, and the path ahead. In this insightful exploration, Pappe meticulously dismantles ten myths, etched into the collective consciousness, that have long perpetuated and shaped our understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Focusing on the fallacies of the past, Pappe confronts six enduring misconceptions. The first myth contends that Palestine was an empty land, a claim he systematically debunks by delving into the historical record. The second myth suggests that the Jews were a people without a land, a notion Pappe addresses with a nuanced perspective that challenges conventional wisdom.

Myth number three posits that Zionism is synonymous with Judaism, a misconception that Pappe dissects to reveal its fallacious underpinnings. He also tackles the assertion that Zionism is not colonialism. Pappe’s exploration examines the formation of Zionism and its instrumental role in the early phases of nation-building

The fifth myth claims that the Palestinian population voluntarily left their homeland in 1948, a narrative that Pappe refutes by drawing from historical accounts and testimonies. The sixth myth revolves around the belief that the June 1967 War was a conflict of “no choice,” an assumption he subjects to rigorous examination.

Pappe then shifts his focus to the fallacies of the present, highlighting three prevalent myths that continue to shape the discourse on Israel. Myth number seven proposes that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, a claim he scrutinizes through the lens of contemporary politics and policy.

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lastic, a marvel of modern innovation, has permeated nearly every facet of our lives. From the convenience of disposable utensils to the durability of plastic packaging, it has become an integral part of our daily routines. However, this very convenience has ushered in a quiet and insidious threat that now looms large on the world’s environmental stage: global plastic pollution.

The statistics surrounding this crisis are nothing short of staggering. Each year, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste find their way into our oceans, equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the sea every minute. By 2050, if current trends persist, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight.

The problem extends far beyond our coastlines, as microplastics, tiny fragments of broken-down plastic, have infiltrated our food chain and bodies, with one study estimating that the average person ingests the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic particles every week.

Similarly, in March 2020, a groundbreaking discovery marked the first instance of microplastic contamination in human blood. This finding emerged during a scientific examination of blood specimens collected from 22 healthy adult volunteers, revealing the presence of plastic particles in approximately 80% of the tested samples.

Beyond its impact on marine life and human health, plastic pollution exacerbates climate change. The production of plastic generates significant greenhouse gas emissions, and as plastic waste decays, it releases harmful compounds into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the environmental toll of extracting the fossil fuels needed to produce plastic cannot be overlooked.

In the face of such alarming statistics, it has become evident that global plastic pollution is not merely an environmental concern but a complex crisis that demands immediate attention. Furthermore, the far-reaching effects of plastic pollution calls for an interdisciplinary approach to the topic.

In Global Plastic Pollution and its Regulation: History, Trends, Perspectives, the authors delve into one of this urgent environmental challenge of our time. They meticulously examine the current scope of this crisis and scrutinize contemporary strategies aimed at its control. Employing a robust interdisciplinary approach, the book effectively encapsulates the primary hurdles and potential remedies associated with this universally relevant issue.

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atin America’s recent “left turn” was triggered by a growing discontent with entrenched inequalities, social injustices, and perceived disregard for the marginalized segments of society. This resurgence of left-wing politics is by no means uniform, as the diverse nations of Latin America each have their own unique narratives and experiences. The region has emerged as one that bears witness to the ebb and flow of democratic ideals, often under the shadow of powerful elites.

Often times, right-wing forces have repeatedly dethroned elected governments that challenged the rich and accepted democracy only after removing the Left and widespread market reform. In this context, a question worth considering is: how would the Right react if democracy threatened elite interests?

Gabriel Hetland’s thought-provoking book, Democracy on the Ground: Local Politics in Latin America’s Left Turn, delves into the confluence of the Left and the Right shedding light on the dynamics of political power through the prism of local politics in Venezuela and Bolivia.

Hetland’s work is the culmination of two years of immersive fieldwork, during which he meticulously observed and analyzed the attempts at participatory reform in cities governed by both the Left and the Right in each of these South American nations. He sets out to unravel a compelling puzzle: what drives political elites to embrace participatory democracy within select Latin American cities while neglecting it in others? The fundamental inquiry at the heart of this book is whether democracy can truly flourish when elite interests are at stake.

Democracy on the Ground presents an essential grassroots examination of two ‘populist’ experiments conducted in Venezuela and Bolivia. One of the central findings of Hetland’s research is that participatory reform measures were more successful in Venezuela compared to Bolivia, regardless of the party in office. Hetland posits that Venezuela’s ruling party achieved a unique form of hegemony, wherein it presented its ideology as a shared vision for all citizens. This political maneuvering forced the Venezuelan Right to operate within the Left’s political framework, ultimately compelling it to implement participatory reforms with surprising vigor.

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ove him or loathe him, there’s no denying that Donald Trump brought a whole new level of spectacle to the world of international relations through his unique approach. In the age of social media, Trump wielded his Twitter account like a magician’s wand, conjuring up tweets that sent shockwaves through the global stage. From the moment he stepped into the political arena, he turned traditional diplomacy on its head, replacing dignified speeches with 280-character proclamations.

It was a rollercoaster ride of mixed messaging, unexpected U-turns, and moments that left even the most seasoned diplomats scratching their heads. One moment he’d be locking horns with world leaders, engaging in diplomatic smackdowns with the best of them. The next, he’d be cozying up to erstwhile adversaries like long-lost buddies.

In his book, Donald Trump’s Digital Diplomacy and Its Impact on US Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East, Ahmed Y. Zohny skillfully delves into the intricate relationship between history, political science, and the digital age. With a meticulous blend of content analysis and critical discourse analysis, Zohny examines the profound implications of Trump’s statements and tweets, that explain the often puzzling nature of his foreign policy decisions. At the same time, Zohny’s analysis unveils the intricacies of this unique form of diplomacy, shedding light on its influence on global politics.

While the American public remained primarily engrossed in the domestic implications of Trump’s presidency, people around the world were deeply curious about how his foreign policy choices would reshape the geopolitical landscape. What emerged from Zohny’s research was a deeper understanding of Trump’s communication style, marked by mixed messaging and impulsive decision-making.

One of the most significant areas of focus in the book is the United States’ withdrawal from the Iran Accord. Zohny compellingly argues that this decision not only guaranteed the collapse of the agreement but also added to the volatility in the already turbulent Middle East. Through detailed analysis, he highlights how this move significantly impacted regional dynamics and strained diplomatic relations.

In recent years, the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked both excitement and apprehension about its potential impact on our daily lives and the future of humanity. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into various aspects of society, from banking and shopping to job applications, concerns about its inherent biases and discriminatory tendencies have come to the forefront. Perhaps one of the most alarming issues surrounding AI is the presence of racism.

AI algorithms rely on vast amounts of data to make decisions, and this data is often sourced from historical records and human interactions. The legacy of racism, unfortunately, is deeply ingrained in our historical data, leading to biases being unintentionally encoded into AI systems. These biases can manifest in various forms, including racial profiling, prejudiced hiring practices, and unfair treatment in areas like banking and lending.

In Is Artificial Intelligence Racist?: The Ethics of AI and the Future of Humanity Arshin Adib-Moghaddam explores the troubling presence of racism within the very fabric of the algorithms that now govern our daily lives. This thought-provoking book takes readers on a journey through the history of enlightenment racism and its connection to the discriminatory practices embedded in modern-day Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems.

Providing an examination of the data that feeds into AI technology and how it will inevitably shape the future of humanity, Adib-Moghaddam unveils the profound implications of such data-driven technology on international security and human rights, urging readers to confront the potential consequences of unbridled AI development.

The book delves into the narratives surrounding the birth and progression of AI systems, placing particular emphasis on the influence of tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates. Through this exploration, the author sheds light on how technology inadvertently assists and enables various forms of extremism, perpetuates social hierarchies, and reinforces discriminatory boundaries within our societies.

On the lush hills of the Myanmar-China border stands an autonomous self-governing polity in Myanmar, the Wa State. It is de facto independent from the rest of the country and has its own political system, administrative divisions and army. Stalemate delves into the captivating history and contemporary political landscape of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), an insurgent force with 20,000-30,000 active forces that stands as Asia’s most formidable.

This narrative of ethnographic exploration paints a vivid picture of an upland community, often brushed aside as mere rebels or linked to drug trade, yet proficiently upholding a unique autonomy that navigates between two dominant states. Rather than sidestepping the neighboring states, the Wa polity actively engages with them, a dynamic that unfolds against the backdrop of sovereignty and statehood struggles.

Through the lens of Andrew Ong’s meticulous analysis, in Stalemate: Autonomy and Insurgency on the China-Myanmar Border readers are led through the political culture entrenched within Wa elites and the general populace, the complex web of UWSA’s international connections, and the intricate capital flows in conjunction with China, illuminating the orchestration behind Wa autonomy. Geopolitical strategy and involvement in the shadow economy is what breathes life into the concept of Wa autonomy. In fact, the book adeptly navigates through the multifaceted borderland geopolitics and the nuances of the shadow economy, highlighting how the United Wa State Army carefully treads this intricate path.

Blending anthropological insights with his personal encounters as a World Food Programme employee in Wa State, Ong delivers a contemplative on-the-ground portrayal of political dynamics in Wa. His objectives, intertwined and interwoven, unfold in three tiers. Primarily, he endeavors to enable readers to perceive the world through the eyes of Wa State’s inhabitants, gaining their perspective. Subsequently, he aims to foster comprehension of the disparities between Wa governance principles and international norms. Lastly, he prompts a reconsideration of conventional interpretations of disorder and stability.

Is nationalism detrimental to democracy? The popular narrative would argue so. In her thought-provoking work, Narratives of Civic Duty, Aram Hur of the University of Missouri, uncovers a surprising revelation: the bedrock of a democracy’s resilience lies in the very element once deemed harmful — national attachments.

The prevailing notion of nationalism as a disruptor of democratic processes is meticulously reconsidered by Hur. She contends that nationalism’s alleged illiberal and exclusionary tendencies do not inherently render it antagonistic to democracy.

Instead, the compatibility of nationalism with democracy is intricately linked to the historical rapport between a nation and its democratic governance. Nationalism can play a complex and multifaceted role in a democracy, offering both potential benefits and challenges.

When harnessed in a responsible and inclusive manner, nationalism can contribute positively to various aspects of a democratic society. Hur explains the national theory of civic duty where she posits that the foundation of civic duty, encompassing the intrinsic urge to be an engaged and responsible citizen even when it demands sacrifice, is rooted in “national attachments.”

Contrary to its conventional portrayal as a force marked by intolerance and exclusivity, Hur argues that the impact of nationalism on democracy’s health depends on the historical context of the interconnection between a nation’s people and its democratic establishment, which can catalyze a sense of civic duty, thus augmenting the robustness of democratic systems. However, the dynamic relationship of “national stories,” plays a pivotal role in the success of this notion.

The interpretation of this connection significantly influences whether nationalism contributes positively to democracy’s vigor or presents challenges. Specifically, if these narratives depict a relationship characterized by mutual dedication, nationalism can emerge as a force that empowers democracies by instilling a sense of civic responsibility in the citizenry.

Hur examines civic duty within democratic societies, unraveling the question of why certain individuals feel compelled to engage in acts like voting, paying taxes, or defending their nation. In the heart of every thriving democracy beats the concept of civic duty. It encompasses the responsibilities and obligations that citizens have towards their society and government, beyond their individual interests.

Insurgency and counterinsurgency are two interconnected and age-old facets of warfare that have shaped the course of history in numerous regions around the world. Rooted in the struggle for power, resources, or ideological dominance, insurgencies represent the defiant uprisings of dissatisfied groups or individuals against established authority.

In response, counterinsurgency emerges as the strategic and tactical efforts of governments or ruling entities to quell these revolts and maintain control. Throughout history, we have witnessed the emergence of countless insurgencies and the subsequent attempts to suppress them. The complexities and challenges inherent in addressing insurgencies underscore the importance of understanding the historical, political, and socio-cultural factors that drive these movements.

In Insurgency Warfare: A Global History to the Present, military historian, thinker and strategist Jeremy Black presents a comprehensive historical account of insurgencies and counterinsurgency warfare worldwide. Departing from the typical focus on Western perspectives, the book emphasizes the significance of situating the experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq within a broader global context. Rather than following the conventional route that centers on the American and French revolutions, the author delves back into ancient times to trace the origins of pre-modern warfare.

By skillfully weaving together both thematic and chronological narratives, Black thoroughly explores the enduring correlations between beliefs, events, and individuals, juxtaposed against the evolutionary changes that have occurred over time. Throughout the book, he delves into the evolution of politics, technologies, and ideologies, giving rise to new parameters and paradigms that have profoundly influenced both governmental and public viewpoints on warfare.

Tracing insurgencies across diverse regions from China to Africa to Latin America, Black illuminates the varying military and political dimensions inherent in each conflict. He adeptly assesses the reasons behind the acquisition of lessons in insurgency and counterinsurgency warfare, meticulously examining how these lessons were not merely learned but actively asserted. At every stage, the book delves into the emergence of norms within militaries and societies, exploring their impact on doctrine and policy.

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he politics surrounding guns in the United States is a deeply contentious issue that has long held a prominent place in the nation’s public discourse. Rooted in historical, cultural, and constitutional factors, the debate over gun rights and regulations has become an enduring hallmark of American politics. The sheer ubiquity of firearms, coupled with deeply ingrained beliefs about individual rights, self-defense, and the role of government, has created a complex landscape where passionate arguments clash and ideological battle lines are drawn.

In Merchants of the Right Jennifer Carlson delves into the multifaceted world of gun sellers, uncovering how their trade extends beyond the mere exchange of firearms. The book sheds light on a remarkable surge in gun purchases, which occurred amidst a confluence of extraordinary events: a once-in-a-century pandemic, widespread racial unrest, and a presidential election that shook the very foundations of American democracy. Carlson’s exploration of this phenomenon reveals how conservative political culture experienced a newfound spur, providing readers with a unique vantage point into the front lines of the ongoing culture war surrounding gun rights and an understanding of how guns became politicized.

Through extensive interviews with gun sellers across the United States, Carlson paints a vivid picture of the struggles faced by these merchants in navigating the complex intersection of guns and politics. The book reveals a frame breaking trend: While it is commonly assumed that the majority of gun owners lean conservative, new gun buyers are more likely to identify as liberal. The significant dilemma that gun sellers faced in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election was should they embrace these new liberal customers, potentially ushering in a new era of bipartisan engagement in the realm of guns, or should they solidify their position on gun politics as a conservative stronghold?

The United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan marks a pivotal moment in modern history, with far-reaching implications for both regional dynamics and global security. After nearly two decades of military involvement, the decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan raised critical questions about the future of the country, the stability of the region, and the legacy of American intervention.

The withdrawal process, which began in earnest in May 2021 and culminated in the complete evacuation of U.S. forces by August of the same year, unfolded against a backdrop of political, security, and humanitarian challenges. The decision to end America’s longest war was driven by a range of factors, including shifting domestic priorities, war fatigue among the American public, and a reevaluation of strategic objectives in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

The consequences of this withdrawal, however, extend far beyond the withdrawal itself. As the Taliban rapidly regained control of large swaths of territory, including the capital city of Kabul, the chaotic scenes of desperate Afghans seeking to flee and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government reverberated across the globe. The vacuum left in the wake of the withdrawal has raised concerns about the potential for a resurgence of terrorism, the erosion of hard-fought gains in human rights and women’s rights, and the regional power dynamics as neighboring countries seek to assert influence in the aftermath of the U.S. departure.

In August in Kabul, Andrew Quilty, a Walkley award-winning journalist, presents a gripping account of the historic fall of Kabul. Through the eyes of witnesses on the ground, Quilty unveils the dramatic events that unfolded as the Taliban seized control of the Afghan capital, marking the abrupt and humiliating end of America’s longest mission.

Quilty’s narrative is powerful and illuminating, weaving together the personal stories of resilience, fear, and hope that unfolded amidst the chaos. He skillfully highlights the complexities of the situation, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the larger geopolitical forces at play and the far-reaching consequences of foreign intervention in Afghanistan in chronological order.

August in Kabul captures the resilience and spirit of the Afghan people, who have endured decades of conflict and upheaval. It also serves as a stark reminder of the limitations and failures of foreign intervention. It is a vital contribution to the historical record, offering readers a remarkable and deeply human perspective on a pivotal moment in recent history. With meticulous research, powerful storytelling, Quilty crafts a narrative that will leave a lasting impact on readers, urging them to reflect on the complexities of war, its aftermath. August in Kabul is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the Afghan conflict and the profound impact it has had on individuals and nations alike.

Andrew Quilty, August in Kabul: America’s Last Days in Afghanistan (Bloomsbury Academic, 2023) ISBN: 9781350370319, 272 pages

Written by Dilara Özer

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he Taiwan Strait has emerged as a geopolitical hotspot, garnering significant attention due to the escalating tensions between the United States and China. This narrow body of water, separating the island of Taiwan from mainland China, has become a focal point of power struggles and competing interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

China’s rise as a global power, both economically and militarily, has fueled concerns over its pursuit of reunification with Taiwan, which currently enjoys de facto independence from China. President Xi Jinping has made reunification a cornerstone of his administration, employing a combination of diplomatic pressure, military posturing, and economic incentives to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and erode its international standing. China’s military modernization, including the development of advanced weaponry and naval capabilities, has increased its capacity to forcefully assert its territorial claims. Meanwhile, the U.S. engages with Taiwan in a way China views as provocative. Should we be concerned?

In War and Peace in the Taiwan Strait, Scott L. Kastner delves into the increasingly tense relationship between China and Taiwan. As fears of a potential military conflict loom large, Kastner offers readers a comprehensive and nuanced analysis of the factors that could lead to hostilities while emphasizing that the situation should not be exaggerated. This book not only sheds new light on the prospects for cross-strait military conflict but also explores the pathways that could either lead to or help prevent such a crisis.

Kastner begins by examining the complex implications of deepening economic integration between China and Taiwan. While economic ties have historically been seen as a stabilizing force, the author delves into the potential risks that arise as a result of this interdependence. He further explores the shifting balance of military power in the region, considering the implications of China’s military modernization efforts and the potential impact on Taiwan’s defense capabilities. These dynamics, coupled with uncertainty surrounding the future of U.S. commitment to Taiwan’s security, contribute to the complex landscape of the Taiwan Strait. A crucial question Kastner considers in his book is whether the United States would come to Taiwan’s defense.

The author also highlights the significance of domestic political changes in both China and Taiwan. By analyzing the internal dynamics within these two entities, Kastner provides readers with a deeper understanding of how domestic factors can shape cross-strait relations and potentially impact the likelihood of military conflict. Kastner delves into an in-depth examination of the intricately intertwined economies of Taiwan and China, as well as their historical background and the significance of freedom in the Taiwanese context.

While the risks of conflict are indeed real, Kastner’s analysis offers a more tempered perspective, emphasizing that war in the Taiwan Strait is far from inevitable. He argues that there are multiple distinct pathways that could lead to hostilities, and the mechanisms that may mitigate one type of conflict might not necessarily be applicable to others. However, the book underlines the presence of powerful mitigating factors, combined with plausible steps to reduce the likelihood of military conflict, providing a glimmer of hope for avoiding a catastrophic outcome.

Combining international relations theory with meticulous empirical analysis of regional trends, Kastner presents readers with valuable insights into the potential occurrence of war in the Taiwan Strait and, more importantly, how such a conflict can be averted. The book equips policymakers, scholars, and interested readers with the knowledge necessary to navigate this complex geopolitical landscape.

War and Peace in the Taiwan Strait is a timely work that provides a comprehensive examination of the risks and possibilities surrounding military conflict in the region. Kastner’s expertise and meticulous research contribute to a vital perspective that not only deepens our understanding of the Taiwan Strait issue but also provides valuable insights into maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Scott L. Kastner, War and Peace in the Taiwan Strait (Columbia University Press, 2022) ISBN: 9780231198653, 272 pages

Written by Dilara Özer

I

n the realm of international affairs, the actions and decisions of intelligence agencies wield tremendous influence. Yet, the role of Western intelligence agencies in perpetuating global inequalities through racialized and orientalist worldviews has often gone unexamined.

In The Covert Colour Line: The Racialised Politics of Western State Intelligence, Oliver Kearns presents a provocative and eye-opening exploration of the failures within Western intelligence, particularly in the context of the Middle East and North Africa.

The author delves into the repeated intelligence mishaps in Iraq, Libya, and beyond, questioning the prevailing narratives and searching for the underlying causes of these catastrophic mistakes.

Kearns begins by highlighting the prevalent issue of intelligence failures and the persistent search for accountability. While many critics have focused on identifying a smoking gun or examining who misread or manipulated the intelligence, he argues that a crucial truth remains unaddressed: Western intelligence is fundamentally flawed and incapable of truly understanding the world it operates in.

Drawing on a deep analysis of historical context, Kearns explores how the mistakes made by British and U.S. intelligence services since the tragic events of 9/11 are rooted in orientalist worldviews and racist assumptions that originated during the Cold War-era colonial retreat. He puts forth that comprehending this historical backdrop is essential to understanding why anglophone state intelligence agencies struggle to grasp the motives and international solidarities of their perceived adversaries.

The Covert Colour Line challenges the traditional understanding of intelligence and examines its role in perpetuating global inequalities. Kearns argues that the intelligence agencies’ imagination of “non-Western” states and geopolitics, deeply influenced by colonial legacies, significantly shaped British intelligence assessments that subsequently underpinned the ill-fated 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent interventions.

I

n Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism, Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way present a groundbreaking analysis of the exceptional durability of revolutionary autocracies, specifically those born out of violence. By examining notable cases such as China, Cuba, Iran, the Soviet Union, and Vietnam, the authors seek to unravel the durability of these regimes, even in the face of severe economic crises, policy failures, public discontent, and external pressures. Why do certain autocratic governments manage to weather the challenges, and what paves the way?

Revolution and Dictatorship sheds light on the initial fragility of revolutionary governments. Despite their weak beginnings, these regimes confront formidable domestic and foreign actors, often with counterrevolutions that spark internal or external conflicts that are detrimental to their survival. The authors exemplify this with cases like Afghanistan, where counterrevolutionary wars led to the downfall of the nascent regimes. However, for those regimes that do manage to persevere, protracted conflicts play a transformative role in solidifying the ruling elite and establishing a loyal coercive apparatus.

Levitsky and Way argue that the unity fostered during these conflicts serves as a catalyst for the demise of rival organizations and alternative centers of power. Consequently, revolutionary regimes become immune to elite defection, military coups, and mass protests—three primary factors that contribute to the downfall of authoritarian governments.

Furthermore, the book underscores the transformative power of revolutions, which often result in the expansion of state authority and rapid industrial and military advancements. The destruction of established elites and the mobilization of vast societal resources allow revolutionary regimes to leapfrog others in the geopolitical hierarchy, having an impact on international politics.

Overall, Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the dynamics between revolution, counterrevolution, and the consolidation of autocratic rule. Levitsky and Way’s meticulous research and intriguing historical analysis, coupled with their engaging writing style, make this book a valuable resource for scholars and policymakers alike.

Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way, Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism (Princeton University Press, 2022) ISBN: 9780691169521, 656 pages.

Written by Dilara Özer.

In his compelling book When Disasters Come Home: Making and Manipulating Emergencies in the West,  David Keen delves into the profound impact of disasters that were once perceived as distant occurrences but are now striking at the heart of the prosperous West. With crises like global warming, migration challenges, threats to democracy, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the repercussions of the war in Ukraine converging, Western societies find themselves caught in a continuous state of fear and distraction.

Keen argues that these disasters should serve as a catalyst for reform, urging us to address the systemic issues that give rise to such catastrophes. However, he reveals how frequently they are exploited for political and economic gain, sidestepping the root causes.

The interplay of various crises, whether gradual or sudden, perpetuates a toxic political landscape that exacerbates the very problems it stems from and enforces a continuous state of crisis amongst society. Politicians often take advantage of the alarm to legitimize their contribution to the disaster-producing system by creating alternate realities and “lesser evil” arguments.

A troubling aspect is the tendency to vilify those striving to alleviate the emergencies or shed light on their underlying factors. Without amplifying alternative perspectives and voices, we risk being ensnared in a self-perpetuating cycle of emergency politics, hindering true resolution and manufacturing its own justification and legitimacy.

From the economy, politics, society and war to the environment, migration, and health, When Disasters Come Home highlights nine major high profile, six abrupt and three slow-burning disasters. Lastly, it also discusses the mass contemporary flight from reality as a disaster in and of itself.

Keen’s book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complex dynamics between disasters, politics, and the imperative need for reform. Through his incisive analysis, he challenges readers to critically assess the interconnections and potential consequences of the current crisis-ridden world.

David Keen, When Disasters Come Home: Making and Manipulating Emergencies in the West (Polity Press, 2023) ISBN: 9781509550630, 288 pages

Written by Dilara Özer.

A

ll eyes have been turned on the Chinese leader Xi Jinping ever since the 20th National Congress in October 2022, renewed his term as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, securing his position to advance his agenda for at least the next five years. His re-appointment completes a comprehensive power grab that has been gathering pace and highlights Xi’s dominance over the Chinese political system.

With its rivalry with the U.S. heating up, understanding Xi’s China is now more important than ever. Even more important is understanding the man himself considering his rigorous power and hold over the country, as well as the potential weight of his decisions in shaping international affairs.

Who is Xi Jinping? Although he came to power a decade ago, he remains an enigmatic leader who is often approached as a dictator in Western publications. His unprecedented power has been unmatched since Mao Zedong. Sinologist Kerry Brown, professor at King’s College and associate fellow at the Asia-Pacific program at Chatham House, helps dispel some of the enigma as Xi: A Study in Power comes as an easy-to-read primer on this influential leader.

Brown provides an overview of Xi’s motives and his prevalence in contemporary China. The book is part biography which covers Xi’s life from his family’s reversed fortune in his early childhood to his more recent rise to power and ambitious campaigns in China and abroad, and part analysis of his power and the impact of his rule on the West.

Xi: A Study in Power gives the reader an understanding of Xi’s vision for China’s future and what it means for the rest of the world. The book highlights that Xi has prioritized the stability of Chinese society and the astounding economic growth of China, while ensuring that nothing challenges the political status quo and the prevalence of the Chinese Communist Party.

Brown assesses the topics with China at the forefront that have had ubiquitous media coverage around the world, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on Xi’s power, protests in Hong Kong, and the reports of the cruel human rights abuses taking place in the Xinjiang region. He also analyzes how these events have been served to the Chinese public within the tightly controlled media to withhold Xi’s ambitions.

For those whose interest has been sparked by the latest global developments involving China but are overwhelmed with the inescapable number of new speculations, Xi: A Study in Power is a good place to start to understand China through its sensational leader. The book is sure to leave the reader with a heightened curiosity on the topic and sufficient information to build upon.

Kerry Brown, Xi: A Study in Power (Icon Books, 2022) ISBN: 9781785788086, 256 pages

“L

eadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on Earth.” Nowadays, new terrorist groups have evolved into leaderless movements, yet we still see the traditional form of terrorist groups with organized leadership and hierarchy able not only to inflict immeasurable harm but also inspire the new generation of terrorist movements. Leadership is especially important when it comes to religious terrorist groups, whether it be Islamic terrorist groups or white Christian white nationalist groups.

In these groups, terrorist leaders are not just the leaders of their organizations; they are perceived by their followers as religious or spiritual leaders as well. Religious terrorist leaders are responsible for creating a group ideology and reconciling their group’s ideology with preexisting religious texts and teachings. Consequently, the leaders in religious terrorist groups tend to have an unparalleled influence on their organizations.

Terror in Transition: Leadership and Succession in Terrorist Organizations offers a rigorous theoretical perspective that extensively explores leadership and succession in terrorist groups throughout the period of their operation to track the opportunities that shape and maximize counterterrorism efforts. Drawing on extensive field research in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Pakistan, the book features detailed analysis of groups such as al-Shabaab, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, and al-Qaeda in Iraq/the Islamic State in Iraq, as well as the KKK.

What is the role of founding leaders in shaping terrorist organizations? What follows the loss of this formative leader? What kind of leader is the successor? In their groundbreaking analysis, Tricia L. Bacon, associate professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs, and Elizabeth Grimm, associate teaching professor in the Center for Security Studies, School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, demonstrate that founders establish the whys and hows of the group. The founder explains and frames the group’s mission, and determines and justifies how the group seeks to achieve its objectives. Later, successors operate from within that base.

Bacon and Grimm argue that how successors position themselves in terms of the founder shapes a terrorist group’s future course. They breakdown the different types of successors: will they be a caretaker, signaler, fixer, visionary, or figurehead? They also examine how and why different types of successors choose to pursue incremental or discontinuous change: Some successors possess family bonds that strengthen their claim to authority. Others are outsiders who seek to escalate the group’s level of violence, and others yet are handpicked long before the leader’s death or arrest. These successors can also hold different aims, ranging from purifying the mission to restoring the group’s public image.

Succession is a critical juncture: it may potentially threaten the very survival of the group. Instability surrounding succession can place a group at its most vulnerable and is the precise time to explore options to weaken or defeat it. Therefore, Terror in Transition: Leadership and Succession in Terrorist Organizations comes as a valuable source that provides actionable recommendations for policymakers and counterterrorism practitioners.

Tricia L. Bacon and Elizabeth Grimm, Terror in Transition: Leadership and Succession in Terrorist Organizations (Columbia University Press, 2022) ISBN: 9780231192255, 312 pages

R

eports about the death of the state amongst international relations scholars seem premature just yet. In this century, the world will conduct an extraordinary experiment in government. By 2050, forty percent of the planet’s population will live in just four places: India, China, the European Union, and the United States. These are superstates: polities that are distinguished from normal countries by expansiveness, population, diversity, and complexity.

Modern statecraft has attempted to adapt to the challenges of globalization, interdependency, and population increase, bringing piling responsibilities to the states. How can superstates manage the burden of their growing scale? Can such states be effectively governed at all? Looking at other model modern states offers only an incomplete picture; however, while there is not much experience to be drawn from today, empires may offer a guide.

Alasdair Roberts, professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, likens these superstates to the empires of the past. After all, it was the age of empires that gave way to the age of states, and later the hybrid polity superstates. In the coming decades, the least populous superstate, the U.S., will contain as many people as the vast British Empire did at its peak in 1914.

Roberts first attempts to decipher the nature of this ongoing experimentin light of new dilemmas of governance. He argues that, for the most part, superstates wrestle with the same problems of leadership, control, and creed that plagued empires for centuries. Yet, there are no simple solutions.

Could superstates be more durable? What are the pros and cons of a superstate in comparison to an empire? A postulate of empires is the assumption of their eventual death. Size and complexity led to fragility, and imperial rulers improvised constantly to put off the day of reckoning—leaders of superstates are doing the same today.

However, superstates now differ from traditional empires in the responsibilities that they bear, and most importantly in the obligation to improve life for ordinary citizens. They pursue radically different strategies for governing at scale that have profound implications for democracy and human rights. While technology provides more ease to superstates for surveillance and many other tasks, their populations are more restless and demanding, they need to govern more intensively and provide more services.

Roberts takes the reader through each superstate one by one to understand their unique challenges and complementing strategies, and reveals common themes amongst these giants in the process. He, then, takes the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study to analyze how these superstates reacted to a common problem in a different way and how they bared during a shock at the global level.

How should superstates be governed? What must their leaders do to hold these immense polities together? How can these superstates withstand the extraordinary strains and shocks of the contemporary world? If they survive, will they thrive? Superstates: Empires of the Twenty-First Century attempts to answer these and other questions by looking into history for ways to govern these sprawling and diverse polities.

With a groundbreaking twist in thinking about the art and methods of statecraft, Roberts considers the decisions leaders must make to devise and redevise strategies for governance at such a grand scale. Pragmatism, a little bit of reservation, and sometimes unorthodox policies may be necessary.

Alasdair Roberts, Superstates: Empires of the Twenty-First Century (Polity Press, 2022) ISBN: 978-1-509-54449-3, 224 pages

T

hroughout history, misinformation was a powerful weapon in the hands of people who fought to maximize their interests. Atrocity fabrication—the invention and reporting of atrocities committed by an adversary without knowledge that they ever occurred—has a centuries-long history at the heart of propaganda and power politics as an effective means of moving public and international opinion.

Now more than ever, the role and scope of misinformation has been able to expand and become an entrenched practice, almost a default extension to any given conflict. Understanding atrocity fabrication and its effects has become crucial to understanding contemporary geopolitics.

Geopolitics expert A.B. Abrams compiles the most significant cases of atrocity fabrication in eleven major conflicts shaping the world order from the Cold War to the present. These include Vietnam and Cuba, the Korean War, Tiananmen Square, the Yugoslav wars, the Gulf War, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and the emerging U.S.-China rivalry. The information sphere currently dominated by Western powers has roots tracing back to early colonial days, which the author initially touches upon to pinpoint a starting point for the evolution of its current-day form.

Atrocity Fabrication and Its Consequences: How Fake News Shapes World Order demonstrates atrocity fabrication in its many forms and varieties, the keys to its success, with the roles played by media and both government and non-governmental organizations in misleading the public, often engrained into larger self-reinforcing metanarratives that form a backdrop to new bits of information.

Abrams highlights how atrocity fabrication is used, and the consequences it has for the populations of the targeted countries, often paving the way for real atrocities such as military interventions committed against them on even larger scales of depravity than those described in the fabricated narratives. Furthermore, atrocity fabrication enforces an interventionist “World Order 2.0” by furthering Western geopolitical interests, an order of conditional sovereignty held by Western opinion of affairs elsewhere in the world, which, conceptually and in practice, has disastrous consequences.

Case by case, Abrams shows how its use can provide pretext for a range of hostile measures against its targets by triggering public moral outrage, transforming wars of unprovoked aggression into those of liberation, turning blockades to starve enemy civilians into humane efforts to pressure abusive governments under the moralistic label of sanctions, and delegitimizing and silencing criticism of one’s actions under accusations of siding with injustice.

Not only is understanding atrocity fabrication important to debunk misinformation about a set of events, but it is also reading how challengers of Western power will continue to be assailed. Atrocity Fabrication and Its Consequences provides an important selection of atrocity fabrication history which is crucial to understanding this mode of action on a broader context of international affairs. The book is a revealing account of how perception is reality by providing history, context, and analysis for a trend that is here to stay.

A.B. Abrams, Atrocity Fabrication and Its Consequences: How Fake News Shapes World Order (Clarity Press, 2023) ISBN: 978-1-949762-70-9, 424 pages

T

here come times throughout history where military innovations or shifts in the character of warfare take great revolutionary leaps, allowing those able to reap their benefits first to position themselves at a substantive competitive advantage. Militaries that identify and exploit these periods of disruptive changes make major shifts in the balance of power, security, and prosperity for their nations. Those who fail to do so, or fail to adapt to change, risk exposing their country to danger. What will the next big thing in warfare be? And how can militaries successfully adapt to meet the challenge? The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers provides an authoritative take and the necessary foundation for healthy speculation.

Military strategist Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr. discusses military revolutions—or shifts in the character of warfare—and specifically the most recent precision warfare revolution which is currently reaching its maturity.

According to Krepinevich, an even newer revolution is emerging. This is fueled by the advances of commercial and military-driven technology, such as AI 3D manufacturing, synthetic biology and quantum computing, and directed energy and hypersonic weapons, and is accelerated by the competition between the U.S., Russia, and China.

The precision warfare revolution was introduced by the U.S. military in the First Gulf War. It gave the U.S. a monopoly over this form of warfare for several decades, but now other powers such as China have these capabilities.

In this era of increased competition amongst great powers, The Origins of Victory, first gives a preliminary assessment of the disruptive changes occurring in general war to identify the existing characteristics of the precision warfare regime, and goes on to offer speculation of the overlapping successor revolution.

Second, The Origins of Victory examines the crucial factor of how military organizations have successfully anticipated and exploited disruptive changes in warfare faster than their rivals.

The book consists of two parts. In Part I, Krepinevich considers the characteristics of the emerging competitive environment through trends over the years and identifies the ones that may show yield in the future. He discusses the maturing precision warfare and the overlapping new revolution, as well as their implication for deterrence.

During the Cold War, views on nuclear deterrence maintained that a “presumed automatic balance” of power would make nuclear war highly unlikely, on the prerequisite that states were more responsible about avoiding falling into deliberate or accidental nuclear war. However, the world is on the cusp of a new nuclear age as we face the reality of increased uncertainty and increasing complexity. The basic assumptions of the Cold War era no longer hold, and a fresh look is urgently needed—The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the New Nuclear Age provides just that.

Nuclear states are undergoing modernization programs and a renewed arms race. Since the Cold War more states have acquired nuclear weapons and have added onto the nuclear landscape a motley of alarming new variables to look out for. Crises and escalations between nuclear states instill fear in the masses as conflicts turn hot and actors become more reckless. Furthermore, over the years, the aspirations of states to acquire nuclear weapons have resulted in many crises.

Could the current lack of a nuclear war breakout be a matter of pure luck? According to the authors, even if this were the case, our luck may just be running out. In The Fragile Balance of Terror, Vipin Narang and Scott D. Sagan argue that the classical deterrence theory seems to be losing its validity.

What are the risks of “nuclear contagion”? Focusing on the second generation of nuclear states, prominent experts on strategy and nuclear policy—namely Giles David Arceneaux, Mark S. Bell, Christopher Clary, Peter D. Feaver, Jeffrey Lewis, Rose McDermott, Nicholas L. Miller, Vipin Narang, Ankit Panda, Scott D. Sagan, Caitlin Talmadge, Heather Williams, and Amy Zegart—collaborate to explain the expanding array of forces and issues, and incorporate new thinking and analysis to the current nuclear era.

This eye-opening collection shows how deterrence may not be a reliable strategy in the future by visiting old challenges such as nuclear reliability, preventative war, survivability, and nuclear learning revamped with a twist to examining the brand-new challenges currently unfolding such as multipolarity, psychology and leaders, and new technologies complicating communication, command, and control.

The Fragile Balance of Terror highlights important topics at the forefront in the 21^st century such as military technologies that create vulnerable arsenals, misinformation, nuclear rivalries that include three or more nuclear powers, dictatorial decision-making lacking checks and balances, and rash choices.

The nuclear threats posed by India, Israel, Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea are precarious. Furthermore, besides their highly hostile environments, domestic instability and few resources challenge these new and potential nuclear powers. Can deterrence hold between these new nuclear states? What are the risks of inadvertent escalation or accidental war in the new nuclear age? The findings are grim, but the book also explores mitigation steps to reduce the heightened potential risks.

The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the New Nuclear Age is an insightful read for understanding the present nuclear landscape and the fragility of the classical deterrence model in the face of new actors and sources of nuclear instability. The e-book version of the book can be downloaded for free at the Cornell University Press website.

Vipin Narang and Scott D. Sagan, The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the New Nuclear Age (Cornell University Press, 2023) ISBN13: 9781501767029, 270 pages

H

ow have we arrived at an era of easy money? What role do central banks play and how has their relationship with finance changed over the years? Do central banks offer more stability to avoid crises? How is the rise of central banks more problematic than expected? Leon Wansleben provides answers in his new book.

When so much has been written about central banks, one might question what there is more to know. Wansleben goes over previously ignored original sources in extensive archival work and interviews for his research to uncover the practices of central banking, its relationship with finance, and accounts of the origin and consequences of the dominance of central banks in economic policy.

For a long time central banks mattered as managers of the international currency order, but they were not the key movers and centers of power. That began to change in the 1970s with the rising inflation, and since then central banks have greatly increased their influence. In The Rise of Central Banks: State Power in Financial Capitalism, Wansleben provides a history and explanation of this rise and why it matters.

Central banks have been expected to be beacons of stability, and in the 1990s and 2010s, they assumed even larger responsibilities. However, global finance has experienced many rocky turns and crises over the years; the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic being two major ones ingrained in our memory. What seems to be going wrong with the equation?

Could central banks’ policies be counterintuitively destabilizing? It turns out, yes. As central banks became dominant, their policy innovations allowed them to use privileged relationships with expanding financial markets to govern the economy. But, by relying on markets, central banks fostered excessive credit growth and cultivated an unsustainable version of capitalism.

How has this change occurred? Many commentators argue that ideas, mainly concerned with controlling inflation, drove change and shifted economics from Keynesianism to monetarism. Others point to the stagflation crises, which saw capitalists and workers in dispute, redistributing power from elected governments to markets and central banks as capitalists pushed deregulation and disinflation. Central banks became the advocates and executers of “hard money” policies.

Wansleben looks introspectively within the central banks themselves, as they are both bureaucratic bodies and banking organizations that operate in private markets, and combines these approaches with the evolving practices of central banking to explain how we arrived at an era of excessive finance. He compares developments in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and Switzerland to find that central bankers’ policy innovations were an important ingredient of change.

The Rise of Central Banks provides a political economy and sociological perspective on how bureaucrats innovate tools, how these tools are woven into the fabrics of economic structures and generate infrastructural power for particular state organizations, and how such intertwinements produce both intended and unintended effects. The Rise of Central Banks shines light on the agency of bureaucrats and calls upon society and elected leaders to direct these actors’ efforts toward more progressive goals.

Leon Wansleben, The Rise of Central Banks: State Power in Financial Capitalism (Harvard University Press, 2023) ISBN 9780674270510, 352 pages

The world is in an era of permanent low-level conflict. Traditional conflict has largely left its place to grey-zone warfare and hybrid war. States have always used unconventional and non-military ways to acquire leverage or attain victory; however, the increasingly complex and interconnected current nature of the world has made interdependence the battleground.

From sanctions to competing for and buying influence abroad, warfare has taken a more subtle, sly, undeclared, unending, and, most importantly, unrestricted, form. Nowadays, this has blurred the line between war and peace.

While traditional war is very expensive, unpopular, and often too difficult to manage, this new way of war is groundbreaking and does not shy away from any tool available. War is all around us, in everyday life, culture, economics, law, and information. Even something as innocuous as cute cat pictures online can become a ploy.

Mark Galeotti takes us through the weaponization of everything, from disinformation, cyberattacks, and espionage to subversion and crime, in order to understand the changing landscape of war and what it might bring.

Gone are the days of “stable” warfare! The subtle components of martial and everyday civilian life are blending, leading to instability within countries and a legitimacy crisis across the globe. However, this development does not need to be a solely negative one. As Galeotti points out, conflict is democratized, meaning the people are not just bystanders and can take positive action to avoid zero-sum situations. The Weaponisation of Everything: A Field Guide to the New Way of War equips the reader with ways of surviving, adapting, and taking advantage of the opportunities presented by this new reality.

When everything is weaponizable, why would the distinction hold any meaning? Where do we begin to look? How can civilians be mindful of this development? Many of the weapons used are often abstract but their effects are very much tangible and jolting. As it turns out, some things are more weaponizable than others.

Luckily, The Weaponisation of Everything lays bare how this warfare takes form all around the world with examples and a future trajectory. While this form of conflict may be vague and confusing, Galeotti makes the topic apprehensible for all readers.

Even though technology advances in leaps and problems seem to be constantly evolving, Galeotti’s approach invites the reader not only to face the emerging reality, but also to learn to adapt to the new permanent, bloodless war. The Weaponisation of Everything, first released in February 15, 2022, is now available in paperback as of February 14, 2023.

Mark Galeotti, The Weaponisation of Everything: A Field Guide to the New Way of War (Yale University Press, 2022) ISBN 9780300253443, 256 Pages

Is information technology accelerating creative destruction? How are large corporations counter-intuitively shooting the capitalist system in the foot? And how do we fix it? In The New Goliaths: How Corporations Use Software to Dominate Industries, Kill Innovation, and Undermine Regulation, James Bessen makes a compelling argument that competition, which has fueled innovation and progress under capitalism, is now threatened by powerful corporate giants like Walmart, Amazon, and Google.

Is technology to blame? In the digital age, software has allowed the increase of efficiency, variety, and flexibility, with far-reaching results in the economy. Yet, only the top firms and their high-level employees have access to key frontier technologies. Indeed, one can observe this trend amidst the mass purge of employees from these top firms. How did this change come about? Bessen dives into the topic of how earlier technologies leveled the competition and its benefits, and what is causing the disruption now.

One could argue that competing with big businesses is easier now than ever before with information technology becoming more affordable and more accessible; however, The New Goliaths points out that on the economic scale, it is the changing nature of how economic actors use information that makes a crucial impact.

“With great economic power came opportunities for abuse and political corruption,” Bessen writes and shows how these giants have tilted the odds in their favor by using proprietary information technologies. Over the years, these “new goliaths” have evaded regulation, slowed innovation, and increased economic inequality and social division. In turn, they have harmed workers, consumers, and citizens, and fueled politics of resentment.

C

lassical realism has been a long-standing theory in explaining international relations, and Jonathan Kirschner reminds us why. Although it has been overshadowed by newer schools of thought such as structuralism, classical realism offers great insight into contemporary issues in the international politics arena.

Have contemporary realists lost their way? With renewed emphasis on the crucial roles played by uncertainty, contingency, and contestation, An Unwritten Future: Realism and Uncertainty in World Politics shows how classical realism better explains the formative events of the past and vital issues of today while assessing the fundamental flaws of classical realism’s would-be successors, namely structural realism and hyper-rationalism. It seeks to reclaim classical realism and deem it, once again, a worthwhile theory. The book, however, does not engage in paradigm wars and does not stray away from the realist tradition.

An Unwritten Future lays out realism’s core principles and discusses the contributions of the perspective’s key thinkers, including Thucydides, Hans Morgenthau, and Raymond Aron, among others. On brand with classical realism where “doubt is not an afterthought,” Kirschner also addresses realism’s limits and shortcomings.

In turn, Kirschner explores contemporary issues, including the ascent of great power challengers, the political implications of globalization, and the diffusion of power in modern world politics—such as the implications of China’s rise, future global order, and the shifts of balance of power and nature of conflict. He also does not neglect to provide a guide to a classical realist political economy highlighting the overlooked but impactful factor of social economy.

Kirshner debunks the notion that classical realism is unscientific and supports the idea that it is better to be vaguely right than exactly wrong. He highlights classical realism’s emphasis on attending to both power and purpose where history, uncertainty, and contingency play a large role. Classical realism, therefore, offers practical utility in an increasingly unpredictable world. Kirshner applies classical realism to the case of the British appeasement of the Nazis and the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War to demonstrate theory in practice. The book also contains a discussion dedicated to explaining the inner workings of classical realism for its persistent skeptics.

Providing a refreshing reminder of the richness of classical realism, this reexamination of the realist tradition is a must-read for students, analysts, and academics interested in international relations theory. Furthermore, An Unwritten Future is rich within its scope, delving into theory, economy, history, and contemporary topics, and provides a little something for everybody.

Jonathan Kirschner, An Unwritten Future: Realism and Uncertainty in World Politics (Princeton University Press, 2022) ISBN: 9780691166773, 336 pages

A

s most of the world collectively undergoes a time of economic crisis, pressure continues to build on the public as governments in the 21st century first look to make cuts from services provided to citizens to contain the negative effects on the economy and increase solvency. Throughout the years, public distress has translated to protests resulting from the decline of social and economic welfare in many countries. The key tool we see policymakers implementing is austerity from the decrease in wages to public benefits cuts.

In The Capital Order, Clara E. Mattei explores austerity as we know it by taking the reader back to its origins: interwar Europe, a time when a new order was emerging as capitalism was fighting its most crucial battle for consolidation. Mattei highlights that after intensive wartime mobilizations capitalism’s inevitability was shattered in the eyes of many workers, and therefore strikes and social unrest increased as more of the population demanded collective power. That is when the austerity counteroffensive was launched.

Mattei brings attention to the fact that despite austerity measures’ failure to deliver their economic promises (such as reducing debt or boosting economic growth) policymakers continue to opt for them. Why so? In this case, she evaluates austerity from a different lens: austerity as crisis management for capitalism rather than the economy.

Mattei argues that austerity functions to discipline society. It enforces the protection of capital and creates conformity in society when means of production and wage relations are contested by the public or when there are calls for alternative forms of social organization. Austerity protects what she refers to as the “capital order” – a sociopolitical order that presupposes economic growth.

Considering austerity’s role in a societal class dynamic, Mattei finds that it insulates capitalist hierarchies from harm during times of would-be social change by placing structural limitations to wages and spending, inevitably imposing it as the only path to a worker’s survival.

Through meticulously compiled archival material, Mattei explores austerity by studying economists in the 1920s from the birthplace of liberalism (Britain) and the birthplace of fascism (Italy) to draw a provocative conclusion about its nature: “an anti-democratic reaction to threats from bottom-up social change.”

Mattei elucidates the thin line between liberalism and fascism that could be derailed by capitalism’s tendencies. The remarkable comparison between the cases of Britain and Italy reveals similarities beyond the sacrifice of citizens. While Italy chose direct coercion, Britain utilized coercion indirectly through a repression concealed in rationality and a seemingly apolitical technocracy that manipulated consensus.

The Capital Order touches upon a period often overlooked by economists when examining austerity. It illuminates the reader on the topics of class relations, the rise of modern economics, and political choice, and leaves even the most skeptical of readers with the question, “Has capitalism lost its innocence to its classist tendencies?”

Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists Invented Austerity and Paved the Way to Fascism (The University of Chicago Press, 2022) ISBN: 9780226818405, 480 pages

Written by Dilara Özer

The market for facial recognition technology (FRT) is rapidly growing as automation continues to take the place of human capabilities. How widespread is the adoption of FRT? How is FRT utilized? What threats does FRT pose to privacy rights and civil liberties? How does FRT affect human rights? How far is too far? Today, FRT can recognize not just the identity of a person, but also decipher their psychology through analysis of their facial expressions. Increasingly, experts and activists voice concerns over methods of data collection, the exploitation of its use, and what ethical issues may arise from the adoption of such technology.

Identified, Tracked, and Profiled offers a critical examination of both the uses and issues that FRT poses while providing an analysis of its global market. Moving beyond FRT as a tool and the rising global demand, Peter Dauvergne shines a light on the anti-FRT movement. He provides information acquired through interviews with expert analysts and activists to provide an insight into the influence of the movement in different parts of the world, including Western democracies, developing countries, and autocratic regimes.

There are indeed many that are full of indignation towards the issues raised by the use of FRT, and Identified, Tracked and Profiled highlights their efforts and addresses how some corporate and state supporters are responding to the backlash.

Recognizing FRT as a source of power, and, therefore, a highly sought out commodity by powerful ruling actors and state-firm alliances, Identified, Tracked, and Profiled showcases the unequal capacity and challenges that activists face in their fight against the creeping normalization of FRT. Yet, it also attempts to show that these movements are not entirely powerless against this development by highlighting the importance of political culture and cooperation within social movements.

Constituting an important element in understanding and dealing with FRT, the global political economy of facial recognition is thoroughly dissected in Part III. Here, the author examines the corporate politics of FRT and the dynamics that are causing its globalization. With China being at the forefront of the utilization of FRT, Dauvergne dedicates a chapter into the everyday politics of FRT in China.

Part IV concludes with Dauvergne’s remarks about the future of FRT in terms of its stance against the growing size, power, and scope of its opposition.

In a timely exploration of the forces for and against FRT, Identified, Tracked, and Profiled is a worthwhile read for those who are interested in civil society activism to prevent the globalization and normalization of new technologies, and students, scholars, and policymakers who are searching for a broad reflection on the power of transnational social movements of resistance towards new technologies.

Interested readers who wish to take a look at Identified, Tracked, and Profiled may do so online for free through Elgaronline.com, as the book is open access.

Peter Dauvergne, Identified, Tracked, and Profiled (Edward Elgar, 2022), ISBN: 978 1 80392 588 2, 144 pages

Written by Dilara Özer

Economic sanctions are a policy tool utilized frequently today as a war deterrent. How did sanctions come to become such a powerful tool? Why do sanctions sometimes not result in the consequences intended by policymakers? Does the legitimacy of sanctions hold?

In The Economic Weapon, Nicholas Mulder provides an illuminating perspective on sanctions by taking the reader back to their origin: the economic blockades used during 20^th-century wartime. He dives into the history of sanctions in order to shed important light onto the array of issues generated by this dominant tool.

Today, sanctions lie in a grey area wherein there is no direct confrontation between two nations, but their presence often implies hostility as they take the shape of a weapon. Sanctions are often viewed as preventive measures to war; however, ironically, they were first utilized as a weapon in an all-out war and quite a powerful one as Mulder’s research points out. It was an instrument that enhanced the gains of victory and brought with it an evolution of administrative mechanisms that were needed to monitor trade, at a time when economic globalization was beginning its rise.

Mulder combines history with references to Norman Angell’s assumptions: due to prosperity and the possibilities offered by globalization, it makes little sense for countries to go to war. In a setting of weaponized interdependence, the WWI blockades provided a new model for economic governance where a highly connected world would mean terrifying consequences.

Mulder examines the League of Nations as the first international organization that would impose sanctions on a large, interconnected scale. He explains that as a peacekeeping organization, the League of Nations moved sanctions from the domain of war to the domain of peace, attempting to instrumentalize trade by using it either as a positive or negative weapon, that is, either as an incentive or under the threat of suspension.

The Economic Weapon puts into context the fact that sanctions came at a time when the deaths and devastation from the blockades were a memory that was alive and terrifying, and hence were a powerful deterrence tool. The author challenges the notion that the league failed to prevent war because the sanctions were weak—or that it needed military power to back the sanctions. Instead, he argues that during a time of crisis sanctions were a force that was hard to calibrate, especially with its new function as an agent of peace.

At this point, he introduces the sanctions-autarky spiral to his evaluation, the threat of sanctions triggering the need to gather resources that will render self-sufficiency. After WWI, this translated into expansionism for Germany, Japan, and Italy. He draws important points from Elizabeth Boody Schumpeter to link the interconnectedness of the relationship of sanctions, autarky, and territorial aggression with legitimacy. The objective of maintaining the status quo and defending it as legitimate involves the right of all countries to economic expansion. Consequently, tension is created when the prospect for economic growth is taken away.

Laying bare the dynamics and experiences during the two world wars, The Economic Weapon offers valuable insight into the power and consequences of sanctions—a productive and destabilizing instrument for both collective security and subtle war in our highly economically globalized and interdependent world.

Nicholas Mulder, The Economic Weapon: The Rise of Sanctions as a Tool of Modern War (Yale University Press, 2022) ISBN: 9780300270488, 448 pages

Written by Dilara Özer

I

n The Trillion Dollar Silencer, Joan Roelofs asks the intriguing, yet mind-baffling question of “Why is there so little anti-war protest in the United States?”, especially when the repercussions of war’s damages reach people, nations, and the environment—whilst being incredibly draining on the society at large.

How has militarism been so accepted, not only by public opinion but also by groups that have traditionally spoken up? Why is taxpayer money repetitively poured into the military industrial complex? How has the outrage against the destruction of war been muzzled? Are civil society sectors complicit? How has the arms sector consolidated and kept its place in the American political system? The answer lies in propaganda, money, and the political economy of war-making.

Roelofs opens with Eisenhower’s Farewell Address to the Nation in 1961 where he mentions the integration of the arms industry and the military establishment into the American experience with a total influence on all aspects of the latter. His speech warned of the implications of this development and the price there is to pay if such power by the military-industrial complex is unchecked.

The Trillion Dollar Silencer connects the complicated web of organizations, industries, partnerships, and agencies that silently evolved to become a system of governance in which the military-industrial complex plays an immensely powerful role. Roelofs highlights, in a nod to Eisenhower’s speech, that the democratic systems of the nation are caught up in these networks and overpowered. By shining a light on the extent of the patronage relations and networks between such organizations and the military-industrial complex, Roelofs intends to spread recognition on the issue in order to confront it more effectively.

The use of force is considered immoral by the public and illegal by international law. Yet, the public, the press, and politicians are undisturbed by the aggressive interventions of the United States. Why so? Roelofs first brings three factors to attention: propaganda, fear of reprisal, and distraction.

Propaganda plays a large role in manufacturing the setting of silence. Many differing areas, such as education, politics, civil society organizations, and the media, which are expected to uphold and inform the views of the public, become a tool of deflection and indoctrination. The fear of reprisal arises from the embeddedness of military and weapons manufacturing via money, engagement, and prestige. Those who may want to take a stand have to sacrifice much for too little. Meanwhile distractions work in parallel with the silence and deflections; distractions are everywhere, yet they may be carefully fueled by the aforementioned organizations to foster tranquility.

Roelofs also mentions hidden and visible interests in the formation of this web. Some interests may be well intended; however, they do not ultimately take away from the bigger damage which the system inflicts.

The loudest silencer of all is money. Roelofs explains how the military-industrial complex keeps the economy afloat, although, in practice, the distribution is unjust. The military sector is a growing, highly incentivized, recession-proof sector with few drawbacks to costs from the economic perspective. Furthermore, the military economy yields a high return on investments.

Whatever happened to the pacifists? The Trillion Dollar Silencer brings to attention how militarized the U.S. really is. It is highly devoted and shaped by war. But more importantly, the boundaries between military and civilian are blurred in the many ways Roelofs has mentioned. Which in turn, further fuels militarization without public notice as the outlines of what militarization is remains uncertain. On a global scale, U.S. dominance has amplified militarization as a worldwide phenomenon. International networks, just like domestic ones, have been able to overpower activists and peace advocates. This far-reaching network is solidified by military sales and aid, training, joint operations, and bases.

Starting with the subject at the very fore, namely the military establishment, Roelofs takes the reader thoroughly, chapter by chapter, through the different organizations and components of the intricate web. Those included are bases and installations, contractors, universities and research institutes, philanthropy and non-profit organizations, state and local governments. What can we do about it? In the final chapter of the book, Roelofs suggests ways to break the silence such as a Green New Deal, creating a peace culture, and conversion to a civilian economy, and also provides some remarks about international relations.

Thorough and ample in modes and scope of information, The Trillion Dollar Silencer contains explanatory images, graphs, charts, and maps to aid and augment understanding for all types and levels of readers. The book joggles the mind in many aspects and brings an awareness to the gravity of the military-industrial hegemony.

Joan Roelofs, The Trillion Dollar Silencer: Why There Is So Little Anti-War Protest in the United States (Clarity Press, 2022) ISBN-10: 1949762580, 302 pages.

T

he climate crisis has become a new reality the world can no longer ignore. For many, change is necessary. Aaron Saad draws attention to the simple slogan “System change, not climate change” often seen at climate marches. The nature and scope of change remains a persisting dispute, which often becomes an obstacle to finding a viable solution and taking action. Ideologies, or in other words, our perception of right and wrong, and consequently how the future should be shaped, have a profound effect on the kind of solutions we choose to impose.

In Worlds at Stake: Climate Politics, Ideology, and Justice, Saad intents to show readers the range of options on climate responses, familiarize readers with the landscape of climate politics necessary for critical evaluation of climate policies, and ignite the readers’ potential energy to contribute to collective political power by helping them find their place in the climate struggle.

Saad takes the reader on a critical journey by using an exploratory approach on differing ideologies and climate justice. By laying out the limits and reaches of each ideology comparatively, the book aids the reader in imagining the realities that the corresponding ideologies may lead to. Saad believes it is not enough to solve the climate problem with a certain response, but that we should also be choosing a response that in the process creates a desirable world.

The essential groundwork is laid in the first part of the book, where the author delves into the concepts of ideology and climate justice. Saad highlights the major role that ideology plays in climate politics, and provides an understanding of what ideologies are and how they work. The following two parts are split into categories of system-preserving and system-changing frameworks respectively, offering an insight into answering the question of whether it is an entire system change that is necessary.

Could the existing dynamics in the system be utilized, tweaked, and refined to serve a better future? The second part of the book consists of the chapters “Neoliberalism and the World-Saving Market,” which discusses using the market forces of capitalism in bringing about change, and “Right-Wing Ideology and Climate Change Denialism”, and “Geoengineering,” which addresses using technology on a large scale to control the Earth’s natural systems.

Or, is it time for more radical changes that shake the system to the core? In the third part of the book, Saad discusses “Social Democracy and a Green New Deal, “Degrowth,” which is about the abandonment of a growth-centered economy to preserve ecosystems from human pressures, and “Ecosocialism,” or dismantling capitalism and designing an egalitarian society based on human needs, harmonized with ecology.

In the final part, Saad focuses on the climate movement, its recent tactics, and how they might change the world. Ultimately, Saad addresses incorporating ways of taking action into the discussion. Worlds at Stake offers a unique perspective and comes as a breath of fresh air to those who grasp the urgency of climate action but may feel unfamiliar with the topic or don’t quite know where they stand yet.

Aaron Saad, Worlds at Stake: Climate Politics, Ideology, and Justice (Fernwood Publishing, 2022) ISBN: 9781773635644, 192 pages

Natalia Grincheva, an honorary research fellow in the Research Unit in Public Cultures (RUPC) at the University of Melbourne and a scholar of digital humanities, has concentrated on developing new data methods for researching museums as core players in the creative economy and as soft power actors. Her book Museum Diplomacy in the Digital Age, published by Routledge in 2020, considers online museums mainly as places of modern cultural diplomacy and explores how museums can shape and manipulate their audiences. Furthermore, the book discusses museums’ strategic forces through their online environments to create national identities and project messages across boundaries.

The book’s main question is about the digital aspect of the contemporary museum from the viewpoint of its diplomatic effects. To answer this question, the author conceptualizes the notion of “digital museum diplomacy.” Grincheva shows that this responsibility is realized by the museums’ cultural diplomacy that occurs informally by non-state actors online.

To conceptualize this trend the author has interviewed several specialists. She has tried to understand the agency of museums in cultural diplomacy and the dialogical essence of online media now used by museums. To do so, she introduces three online practices started by Western museums during the past decade by examining the Australian Museum, Sydney (Chapter 3); the British Museum, London (Chapter 4); and the Guggenheim Museum, New York (Chapter 5).

These online museum spaces have provided a unique chance to build a cooperative communication system with the visitors. For her, these new technologies incorporated by museums can present a series of opportunities and some sources of revenue needed to extend their abilities and assets.

According to Museum Diplomacy in the Digital Age, contemporary museums can reach unprecedented global power possibilities in expanding museum collections, narratives, and programs. Drawing on many examples in online museum spaces, the book introduces some techniques for “digital museum diplomacy.” Through this diplomacy, online museums can develop values and transfer cultural and political messages to guarantee their nations’ interests.

Natalia Grincheva, Museum Diplomacy in the Digital Age (Routledge, 2020) ISBN 9780815369998, 164 Pages, 22 B/W Illustrations

In Political Warfare: Strategies for Combating China’s Plan to “Win without Fighting,” Professor Kerry K. Gershaneck, who has studied and written on the China-U.S. relationship for the past decades, focuses on China’s political warfare which he understands a threat to the United States. The author belongs to a circle that considers China an essential enemy of American freedoms and values. The book is Gershaneck’s explanation of how “‘contemporary totalitarian Sino-fascism’ threatens democracies insensitive to the danger.”

Political Warfare: Strategies for Combating China’s Plan to “Win without Fighting” is a comprehensive analysis of the complexities of China’s challenge, including its tactics, ideologies, and organizational procedures. It entails comprehensive case studies of China’s political warfare operations against regional allies of the United States such as Thailand and Taiwan.

Gershaneck believes that China is at war with the world, and especially with the United States and its allies. He tries to explain the most important concepts and themes needed to appreciate China’s political warfare and offers a historical outline of the development of Chinese political warfare abilities and skills.

The book’s main idea is “political warfare,” a term that the author owes to the American statesman George F. Kennan (1904–2005). In April 1948, Kennan published The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare to prepare the “Free World” for the use of the political warfare needed to defeat the Soviet Union and win the Cold War. Gershaneck introduces China’s political warfare, and explains the most important terms and definitions of the concept. The book continues with China’s political warfare goals, ways, means, and wartime support, and elaborates on the country’s political warfare against Thailand and Taiwan.

Gershaneck believes there is an urgent need to establish an Asian political warfare center of excellence, to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute China’s political warfare activities.

Given that for Gershaneck China presents a substantial threat to the United States and its allies, he offers some conclusions and recommendations to empower the USA in this challenge. He discusses the need to develop a national strategy to counter China’s political warfare, and to rebuild national institutions and establish programs in this direction.

Gershaneck believes there is an urgent need to establish an Asian political warfare center of excellence, to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute China’s political warfare activities and to screen, track, and expose them. He also recommends that U.S. policymakers take legal action against China’s officials and affiliates engaged in civil rights offenses, encourage academic study that focuses on combating China’s political warfare, and finally, pass legislation to diminish the offensive power of China’s news and social media.

Kerry K. Gershaneck, Political Warfare: Strategies for Combating China’s Plan to “Win without Fighting” (Marine Corps University Press, 2020) ISBN 979-8569771318, 215 pages

Joko Widodo is an Indonesian politician, businessman, and the 7th president of Indonesia. He previously served as the mayor of Surakarta from 2005 to 2012, and the governor of Jakarta from 2012 to 2014. He was elected president in July 2014 – the country’s first non-elite and non-military political leader.

Widodo is bound to the idea of change and reform in contemporary Indonesia. Although he has tried to transform the country into an Asian power, several crises, ranging from COVID-19 to some popular Islamist movements, have challenged his career. As the first English-language biography of Widodo published by Penguin Specials as a Lowy Institute Paper, Ben Bland’s Man of Contradictions shows how Widobo’s presidency mirrors a range of modern Indonesia’s paradoxes: democracy and totalitarianism, openness and protectionism, Islam and pluralism.

Although Widodo’s presidency has not yet come to an end, the author has delivered a great book. Bland, a Financial Times correspondent in Jakarta, has had unconditional access to the president, interviewed him on several occasions, and has gotten to know many of his officers and consultants. Apart from this, the author has lived in Indonesia among the ordinary people whose daily lives have been affected by Widodo’s domestic and international policies.

Bland professes that Man of Contradictions is not a “conventional biography.” His work follows what he considers the contradictions and paradoxes of Widodo, best exemplified in his manner and style. For the author, the unique manner of his leadership is an outcome of the hopes and dreams of the tens of millions of Indonesians who have voted for him.

The author has intentionally tried to prepare a book that is comprehensible to the general reader and does not become entangled with the conventional theories of policy-making and politics nor the challenging methods of biography writing. The book is an accessible source of understanding the highest-level political situation in the most populous Muslim country in the world.

Man of Contradictions familiarizes readers with Joko Widodo, the challenging leader of Southeast Asia, and at the same time, is a fresh and up-to-date political biography that opens a door to a political and social aspect of Indonesian history and society.

Ben Bland, Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia (Penguin, 2021) ISBN 978-1760897246, 164 pages.