History & Political Science
Children of the Movement
John Blake
Profiling 24 of the adult children of the most recognizable figures in the civil rights movement, this book collects the intimate, moving stories of families who were pulled apart by the horrors of the struggle or brought together by their efforts to change America. The whole range of players is covered, from the children of leading . . . READ MORE
“A fresh approach to chronicling the historic struggle . . . powerful.”
“Touching, disturbing and surprising.”
The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History 1300-1850
Brian Fagan
The Little Ice Age tells the story of the turbulent, unpredictable, and often very cold years of modern European history, how this altered climate affected historical events, and what it means for today's global warming. Building on research that has only recently confirmed that the world endured a 500-year cold snap . . . READ MORE
“Brian Fagan, one of America’s leading archeologists, has written a most timely and riveting book.”
“A brilliant survey of history founded on an unusual common thread.”
Freedom's Power: The True Force of Liberalism
Paul Starr
Liberalism in America is under siege. Conservatives now treat it as an epithet and even some progressives spurn it. But according to Paul Starr, liberalism is a sturdy public philosophy, deeply rooted in our traditions, capable of making America and the world more free and secure. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” remains as . . . READ MORE
“Complex macroeconomic, demographic and philosophical trends are presented engagingly and understandably for casual readers and political buffs alike.”
What Would the Founders Do? Our Questions, Their Answers
Richard Brookhiser
Why do Americans care so much about the Founding Fathers? After all, the French don't ask themselves, "What would Napoleon do?" But Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and Adams built our country, wrote our user's manuals--the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution--and ran the nation while it was still . . . READ MORE
Congress in Context, 1st edition
John Haskell
The U.S. Congress is by far the least popular branch of the federal government. It is also probably the least understood. It is not uncommon for high-ranking government officials to be confused about the workings of the institution and how it exercises its power. This book aims to demystify the institution--to give readers a succinct yet sophisticated overview of Congress and the policymaking process. . . . READ MORE
“Realistic without being cynical, serious without being grave. Readers of this book will come away with a richer understanding of the powers and limitations of Congress.”
The Public Policy Theory Primer, 2nd edition*
Kevin B. Smith and Christopher W. Larimer
Public policy has developed into a broad and interdisciplinary area of study. Research in the field tends to reflect this wide-ranging nature, with scholarly activity focusing on policy process, policy design, program evaluation, specific policy issues, and research classified simply as “policy studies.” Yet for those teaching and studying . . . READ MORE
*I also edited the first edition of this book.
“Smith and Larimer’s tour de force provides both summary and serious critique of the field of policy studies. It will be the standard reference for years to come.”
The Campaign Manager: Running and Winning Local Elections, 4th edition
Catherine Shaw
Featuring invaluable insight from an expert author, The Campaign Manager offers the most comprehensive guide for organizing, funding, publicizing, and winning local political campaigns. Author Catherine Shaw draws on experience from her three terms as mayor of Ashland, Oregon, and dozens of campaigns to provide practical, proven advice, and her field-tested methods carry candidates through the entire process. The fourth edition offers . . . READ MORE
“Written in an easily comprehensive and systematic approach, Shaw’s book gives the reader the vital tools and components to not just strategize but also implement a modern local campaign.”
Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements, 4th edition
James DeFronzo
With crucial insights and indispensable information concerning modern-day political upheavals, Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements provides a representative cross section of the most significant revolutions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This fourth edition is revised and updated with special focus on Islamic . . . READ MORE
“An excellent overview of the complex subject of revolution in clear, concise language.”
International Studies: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Global Issues, 2nd edition*
Sheldon R. Anderson, Jeanne A.K. Hey, Mark Allen Peterson, and Stanley W. Toops
This core text is the first to provide a much-needed interdisciplinary approach to international studies. The authors include a geographer, a historian, a political scientist, and an anthropologist. Emphasizing the interconnected nature of these disciplines, the authors detail the methodologies and subject matter of each to provide a . . . READ MORE
*I also edited the first edition of this book.
“International Studies … explain[s] big ideas while delivering the context and color to tickle the imagination and appreciate what is at a stake and why it matters.”
Fundamental Principles of International Relations, 1st edition
J. Martin Rochester
This book distills the essential elements of world politics, both the enduring characteristics as well as the revolutionary changes that may be altering the very fabric of the centuries-old state system. . . . READ MORE
“An extremely intelligent and well-written text [that] . . . brings the foremost issues and complexities of international relations to life for students with engaging prose and critical thinking exercises.”
“Few stories are as complex, as misunderstood, or as urgent as that of the United Nations. No one tells it better than this dynamic author team. Already a classic, their text offers invaluable insights into how the world tries, fails, and tries again to govern itself.”
The United Nations and Changing World Politics, 7th edition*
Thomas G Weiss, David P Forsythe, Roger A Coate, and Kelly-Kate Pease
This completely revised and updated seventh edition serves as the definitive text for courses in which the United Nations is either the focus or a central component. Built around three critical themes in international relations—peace and security, human rights, and humanitarian affairs—the seventh edition of The United Nations and Changing World Politics guides students through the complexity of politics and almost seven decades of UN activities. . . . READ MORE
*I also edited the fifth and sixth editions of this book.
“[The authors] focus on the most important questions of international governance—human security, human rights, and sustainable development—and provide students with a wealth of information enabling them to make their own informed conclusions about the UN system’s contributions to answering them.”
The Parties Respond: Changes in American Parties and Campaigns, 5th edition
Mark D. Brewer and L. Sandy Maisel
As a survey of the most current and significant issues affecting party politics in the United States, The Parties Respond has become a standard for reference and college course use. Mark Brewer and L. Sandy Maisel draw together leading scholars for thirteen original essays. The topics addressed include partisanship in the electorate, parties and the media revolution, the campaign and election process, and parties in government. . . . READ MORE
“A significant addition to the continuing discussion of the role of parties in contemporary American politics.”
Confronting Iran: The Failure of American Foreign Policy and the Next Great Crisis in the Middle East
Ali Ansari
Iran refuses to relent in developing nuclear technology, despite U.N. sanctions. Rumors persist that Israel is drawing up plans for military strikes. Neither the emboldened Iranian president . . . READ MORE
The New Cold War: Revolutions, Rigged Elections, and Pipeline Politics in the Former Soviet Union
Mark A. MacKinnon
When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and the Soviet Union collapsed two years later, liberal democracy was supposed to fill the void left by Soviet Communism. Poland and Czechoslovakia made the best of reforms, but the citizens of the "Evil Empire" itself saw little of the promised freedom, and more of the same old . . . READ MORE
The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences, 1st edition
James Defronzo
Exploring the key historical, political, and social underpinnings, James DeFronzo analyzes the impact of this defining war in the Middle East. The Iraq War explains the compelling and interrelated sociological and political forces that led to war, accounting for important aspects of the occupation, the development of the resistance, and the conflict’s influence on other nations. . . . READ MORE
Southeast Asia in the New International Era, 6th edition*
Robert Dayley and Clark D. Neher
Southeast Asia in the New International Era highlights the dramatic political events sweeping a dynamic region populated by more than 500 million people. Where economic boom and crisis dominated events in the late twentieth century, economic recovery and policy dilemmas define much of the region today. . . . READ MORE
*I also edited the fifth edition of this book.
Comparing Asian Politics: India, China, and Japan, 3rd edition
Sue Ellen M. Charlton
Comparing Asian Politics presents an invaluable comparative examination of politics and government in three Asian nations: India, China, and Japan. The author elucidates the links between politics and each nation's distinctive cultural and historical contexts and demonstrates the intermingling and grafting of Asian traditions with the influence of Western values and institutions. . . . READ MORE
US Foreign Policy in the Twenty-First Century: Gulliver's Travails, 1st edition
J. Martin Rochester
The issues raised by the Iraq War are symptomatic of larger phenomena that will continue to preoccupy American foreign policy makers well into the twenty-first century. The war on terror, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, humanitarian intervention, and a litany of other concerns on the foreign policy agenda pose complex dilemmas for which there are no simple answers. . . . READ MORE