Review – The Politics of the Palestinian Authority
Nigel Parsons’ book is a must-read for all of those interested in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and for scholars researching conflict-affected areas, processes of transition & national movements.
Review – The New Historiography of Human Rights
Human rights history matters for IR debates. Different theories of human rights depend upon different (more or less explicit) historical accounts of their genesis.
Review – The Generals
The American military fights a lot, but wins less frequently. Thomas Ricks’ provocative examination of the relative failures of the US military’s major engagements since WWII (Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam) lays the blame with the generals.
Review – Foundations of Freedom
Simon R. Clarke suggests that whatever our present convictions about the value of freedom, we have good reason to keep debating its uses and abuses. For that, this book deserves high praise.
Review – American Democracy Promotion in the Changing Middle East
This important book examines whether US democracy promotion has been sincere, or whether it was simply one of a range of policy options for promoting US material and strategic interests.
Review – Rethinking Peacebuilding
This book takes up the challenge of reframing both peacebuilding theory and practice to better address questions related to the relationship between peace and justice in contemporary peacebuilding.
Review – Kony 2012
In the case of Kony 2012, when the desire for individual satisfaction of the donor is more apparent than advocacy based on thoughtfulness and reflection, the result is an unethical advocacy.
Review – Peacebuilding and NGOs
Drawing on the case study of Cambodia, this look at NGO contributions to peacebuilding debates the balance of power between the liberal peace system, the state and civil society.
Student Book Features: Comparative Politics
Students embarking on a degree in IR will usually need to become familiar with the broader aspects of political science as an academic discipline. These books will help.
Review – Obama’s Wars
Woodward’s book is a meticulously and exhaustively researched account of President Obama’s handling of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan during the first two years of his first administration.
