A Look In The Mirror
President Carter proclaims U.S. an oligarchy, and Colonel Laurence Wilkerson says it's a perpetual war machine for defense contractors, weapons manufacturers, and power hungry politicians.In this eye-opening, witty, painfully honest, Socrates-like hard look in the mirror, Darrell Cass reeducates those 99% of Americans and the world that have been bullied, brainwashed, kidnapped, and beaten into delusional submission by master sorcerers. You will laugh, cry, and be ashamed as he illuminates the ingenious ways our self-serving elite have percolated their morals, values, and ethics down throughout society. One that was willingly hypnotized, brainwashed, and duped into playing its role in this play for modern day privateers through a comprehensive list of cancerous infections we've all spread throughout every segment of society for their benefit.This brutal confession points out it takes "two to tango" and exposes our seedily choreographed social demise started by Wall Street, politicians, and Super Pac's in the 1980's with just a few selfish, corrupt, moral-less, narcissist on board. But by 2000, when the train pulled out of the station, it was packed full of ordinary Americans under their spell. You will quickly realize, for the last 35 years we've been nothing more than a highway for political ambitions, an extremist punching bag they beat to a pulp, and a puppet they played like a violin for their amusement.Who caused America's social degradation and empowers the billionaires, politicians, and banking establishments that are more dangerous than standing armies? Who's really responsible for our misguided, irrational, self-absorbed, materialistic, often violent and cruel society and how did it happen? Who helped push the self-destruct button?Now, the question is: Can we restore our admirable society, or is it too late to sink their moral-less mighty fleet and pull the country back out of "Davy Jones's locker?" It's almost as if Darrell Cass climbed into a time machine to take a look at America's immediate future, and found it frightening. Such is the feel from reading A Look in the Mirror, which is the most contemporary book on modern America precisely because it nailed many of the nation's political undercurrents, manipulations, and trends even before the November 8th, 2016 election.Several chapters include the latest damning evidence about Trump's special interests and the ironies involved in the fact that a man connected with federal fraud, money laundering, and billions in failed debt could rise in the system to become President: "As a reward, he is now president and we have the first "foreign born" First Lady." - Diane Donovan, Midwest Book ReviewA debut political polemic bemoans the downfall of the United States. Many in the commentariat have heaped blame on the 1 percent, who rig the system from their positions of power in Washington and on Wall Street, but the country's problems go deeper than that. In his introduction, Cass writes, Wall Street's greed is echoed in the unquestioning consumerism of average Americans, and the average person on Main Street is collaborating in the destruction of all that made the nation good. - Kirkus Reviews
Sovereignty 2035
Sovereignty 2035: The India Equation is a landmark blueprint for a nation standing at its most consequential crossroads since independence. In a century where power no longer flows from GDP, military might, or population size alone, Sandeep Chavan argues that modern sovereignty is determined by three interlocking variables-Capability ? Stability ? Integration-and that India must urgently rebuild its architecture if it is to survive, adapt, and rise in the compute era.Through cutting-edge analysis, sharp narrative, and an educator's clarity, Chavan unpacks the deeper forces reshaping global power: semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, supply chains, talent ecosystems, institutional capacity, and digital rails. He demonstrates how the United States, China, and Russia represent three competing operating systems of modern power-and why India must walk a tightrope between integration and dependence, competition and cooperation, ambition and preparation.The book exposes India's internal contradictions with honesty and empathy: a billion dreams sprinting on outdated systems, world-class minds leaking out of fragile pipelines, institutions exhausted by political interference, capability gaps hidden beneath national narratives, and a nation paying a heavy strategic tax for its own internal chaos.Yet Sovereignty 2035 is not a story of despair-it is a design for acceleration. Chavan outlines the architecture India must build: strong courts, empowered regulators, autonomous research ecosystems, leadership teams instead of icons, semiconductor and compute sovereignty, manufacturing discipline, talent networks, stable institutions, and a modern national security framework that integrates digital, intelligence, and physical domains.He offers scenario pathways for 2025-2035, revealing futures of acceleration, stagnation, vulnerability, and collapse-with India's global position determined not by emotion or ideology, but by architecture and execution. Each pathway is a mirror held to policymakers and citizens alike, showing how choices made today ripple into destiny tomorrow.Bold, urgent, prophetic, and unapologetically clear, this book reframes the debate on India's strategic future. It challenges leaders, thinkers, educators, and citizens to look beyond narratives and confront the variables that truly determine national power. It insists that slogans and sentiment are insufficient; only architecture, coherence, and execution can secure sovereignty in the compute century.If India strengthens capability, stability, and integration together, 2035 becomes a launch window-a moment when the nation ascends as a sovereign power in the new global order. If even one variable fails, 2035 becomes the deadline for a future lost-a point of no return where ambition collapses into dependency.This is the equation India must solve-before the world moves on.
The False Peace
"The False Peace: Why The Abraham Accords Cannot Protect The Gulf From A Radicalised Israel" by Miriam Goldstein: An in-depth look at what has led to heightened diplomatic tensions in the region, where old grievances and border disputes never die, ensuring that nothing new will ever truly be born. And while these agreements seem to suggest stability, they instead bring Gulf states into line with the containment policies of a radicalised Israel, sounding the echo of colonial doctrines that always preferred maximalist expansion over equity.Goldstein emphasises the gulf between public statements - displays of idealism for international audiences - and private negotiations often driven by realpolitik and trade-offs. Diplomats, bound by inflexible posturing, struggle to negotiate effectively, and soft power measures like propaganda serve only to deepen current fault lines by spreading them throughout the digital space.Backchannels serve as avenues for forming relationships in a tacit manner, but they can also be susceptible to manipulation and pose transparency challenges.The role of economic incentives in diplomacy is considered; trade agreements and aid contribute to cooperation, yet they also raise the risk of mutual dependence. Goldstein, through case studies, evaluates case studies from creative frameworks and failures from mistakes in the process while drawing attention to how outside mediators can change regional stability. Looking ahead, she points out that new alliances, the rise of new actors and digital developments are crucial for preventing major clashes.This well-researched study, written as a pamphlet and based on diplomatic history, calls for a necessary change of direction in the political leadership's perception that excludes retelling history. By examining the constraints placed upon the agreements, Goldstein highlights potential paths to Gulf resilience and prevention from encirclement in a world of complex power and desire for shared prosperity.
The Hidden Grand Strategy
The Hidden Grand Strategy offers a timely, analytically rich examination of US grand strategy from the end of the Cold War to the present era of renewed great-power competition. Positioned at the intersection of theory and practice, the book is designed for academic, policy, and general audiences interested in geopolitics, security studies, and contemporary history.Isham's central contribution is to connect evolving strategic paradigms with concrete policy outcomes. He shows how seemingly abstract concepts-containment, unipolarity, the "war on terror," and great-power competition-have structured interagency decision-making and the integrated use of diplomatic, military, economic, and information instruments of power.Key themes include: Continuity and change in US strategy: how long-standing strategic traditions adapt to shifting geopolitical contexts and technological change while preserving core interests.Strategic narratives: the distinction between official, publicly stated objectives and tacit, often less visible goals that shape US conduct toward Russia and China.Institutional memory and foresight: how accumulated experience within the national security bureaucracy influences perceptions of new threats and opportunities.The management of rivalry: how post-Cold-War unipolarity gave way to a more contested order, in which Washington blends cooperation, competition, and coercion in dealing with Moscow and Beijing.For booksellers and librarians, this title will sit comfortably alongside works by John Lewis Gaddis, Hal Brands, and other leading scholars of grand strategy. It is suitable for: Upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate courses in international relations, security and strategic studiesPolicy professionals and think-tank researchersJournalists and informed general readers seeking a structured understanding of US-Russia-China dynamicsWritten in accessible prose yet grounded in serious scholarship, The Hidden Grand Strategy provides a valuable resource for collections on American foreign policy, global security, and twenty-first-century geopolitics.
The False Peace
"The False Peace: Why The Abraham Accords Cannot Protect The Gulf From A Radicalised Israel" by Miriam Goldstein: An in-depth look at what has led to heightened diplomatic tensions in the region, where old grievances and border disputes never die, ensuring that nothing new will ever truly be born. And while these agreements seem to suggest stability, they instead bring Gulf states into line with the containment policies of a radicalised Israel, sounding the echo of colonial doctrines that always preferred maximalist expansion over equity.Goldstein emphasises the gulf between public statements - displays of idealism for international audiences - and private negotiations often driven by realpolitik and trade-offs. Diplomats, bound by inflexible posturing, struggle to negotiate effectively, and soft power measures like propaganda serve only to deepen current fault lines by spreading them throughout the digital space.Backchannels serve as avenues for forming relationships in a tacit manner, but they can also be susceptible to manipulation and pose transparency challenges.The role of economic incentives in diplomacy is considered; trade agreements and aid contribute to cooperation, yet they also raise the risk of mutual dependence. Goldstein, through case studies, evaluates case studies from creative frameworks and failures from mistakes in the process while drawing attention to how outside mediators can change regional stability. Looking ahead, she points out that new alliances, the rise of new actors and digital developments are crucial for preventing major clashes.This well-researched study, written as a pamphlet and based on diplomatic history, calls for a necessary change of direction in the political leadership's perception that excludes retelling history. By examining the constraints placed upon the agreements, Goldstein highlights potential paths to Gulf resilience and prevention from encirclement in a world of complex power and desire for shared prosperity.
The Hidden Grand Strategy
The Hidden Grand Strategy offers a timely, analytically rich examination of US grand strategy from the end of the Cold War to the present era of renewed great-power competition. Positioned at the intersection of theory and practice, the book is designed for academic, policy, and general audiences interested in geopolitics, security studies, and contemporary history.Isham's central contribution is to connect evolving strategic paradigms with concrete policy outcomes. He shows how seemingly abstract concepts-containment, unipolarity, the "war on terror," and great-power competition-have structured interagency decision-making and the integrated use of diplomatic, military, economic, and information instruments of power.Key themes include: Continuity and change in US strategy: how long-standing strategic traditions adapt to shifting geopolitical contexts and technological change while preserving core interests.Strategic narratives: the distinction between official, publicly stated objectives and tacit, often less visible goals that shape US conduct toward Russia and China.Institutional memory and foresight: how accumulated experience within the national security bureaucracy influences perceptions of new threats and opportunities.The management of rivalry: how post-Cold-War unipolarity gave way to a more contested order, in which Washington blends cooperation, competition, and coercion in dealing with Moscow and Beijing.For booksellers and librarians, this title will sit comfortably alongside works by John Lewis Gaddis, Hal Brands, and other leading scholars of grand strategy. It is suitable for: Upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate courses in international relations, security and strategic studiesPolicy professionals and think-tank researchersJournalists and informed general readers seeking a structured understanding of US-Russia-China dynamicsWritten in accessible prose yet grounded in serious scholarship, The Hidden Grand Strategy provides a valuable resource for collections on American foreign policy, global security, and twenty-first-century geopolitics.
The Contractor
A lot has been written about the time contractor Raymond Davis spent in a Pakistani jail in 2011. Unfortunately, much of it is misleading--or downright false--information. Now, the man at the center of the controversy tells his side of the story for the very first time. In The Contractor: How I Landed in a Pakistani Prison and Ignited a Diplomatic Crisis, Davis offers an up-close and personal look at the 2011 incident in Lahore, Pakistan, that led to his imprisonment and the events that took place as diplomats on both sides of the bargaining table scrambled to get him out. How did a routine drive turn into front-page news? Davis dissects the incident before taking readers on the same journey he endured while trapped in the Kafkaesque Pakistani legal system. As a veteran security contractor, Davis had come to terms with the prospect of dying long before the January 27, 2011 shooting, but nothing could prepare him for being a political pawn in a game with the highest stakes imaginable. An eye-opening memoir, The Contractor takes the veil off Raymond Davis's story and offers a sober reflection on the true cost of the War on Terror.
The Owned Continent
In 2025, Europe endured a continental-scale humiliation. The EU and UK gave in to Donald Trump's tariff extortion - accepting lopsided trade deals, tribute-like payments and adjustments to domestic laws. At NATO, European leaders grovelled -- calling the US president "daddy" even as he threatened to invade an EU country's territory. "They call me the president of Europe," Trump bragged. Terrified of losing US protection from Russia, European leaders have accepted terms that echo the coersion once imposed on China during its 'century of humiliation'. Yet citizens accepted it. Why?Journalist Dave Keating says the reason goes far beyond geopolitics. America permeates Europeans' daily lives: television, music, news, technology, commerce and social media all create psychological dependence. Many Europeans feel so culturally intertwined with the US it's almost like they live in it -- making it hard to imagine America as anything other than a friend. That, Keating contends, is why Europeans capitulated while other global powers didn't. And it's why so many can't accept that the threats to Europe don't just come from the East, they also come from the West.The Owned Continent offers a blunt assessment of Europe's dependence and describes how Trump has exploited it. Yet Keating also proposes a way out: six essential steps to reclaim strategic autonomy and escape Washington's control - by using the power of the European Union.About the author: Dave Keating is an American-European journalist in Brussels who has covered EU politics for 20 years. He is a TV correspondent and the author of Gulf Stream Blues on Substack, known for his clear, accessible analysis. A former Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and the editor of EuropeanVoice.com, he was ranked the top EU social media influencer in 2023. Keating draws upon his on-the-ground reporting experience in London, Brussels, Paris, Prague, Berlin, New York, Chicago and Washington to provide context for European political developments.
Towards An Enduring Peace
In the midst of the chaos of the World War I era, a beacon of hope emerged from the shadows of conflict. This peace symposium collection, once out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions, captures the fervent dreams of diplomats and visionaries striving for a world without war. Restored for today's and future generations, this edition is not just a reprint-it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure that resonates with the timeless quest for peace. Delve into the historical peace proposals and international diplomacy efforts that laid the groundwork for modern conflict resolution strategies. As Europe during WWI grappled with unprecedented turmoil, thinkers from across the globe converged to chart a course towards an enduring peace. Their discussions, rich with the seeds of the League of Nations' origins and the early 20th century's burgeoning historical peace movements, offer invaluable insights for students of history and peace studies researchers alike. This work stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the relentless pursuit of harmony, echoing the ideals that would later shape Woodrow Wilson's peace efforts. As you turn each page, you become part of a historical dialogue that continues to inspire and challenge, inviting both casual readers and classic-collection buyers to reflect on the enduring power of hope and diplomacy.
The Land Of The Boxers; Or, China Under The Allies
Imagine a world where the clash of empires echoes through the narrow streets of early 1900s China, a land caught in the throes of the Boxer Rebellion. This historical nonfiction book immerses you in a vivid tableau of international military intervention, where the allied forces in China navigate a turbulent landscape marked by cultural upheaval and fierce resistance. Out of print for decades, this compelling military history account is now republished by Alpha Editions, meticulously restored for today's and future generations. Delve into the intricate tapestry of China under foreign powers, where the ambitions of nations collide with the indomitable spirit of a people fighting for their homeland. This edition is not just a reprint-it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, offering a window into a pivotal moment that shaped the modern world. History enthusiasts and military history readers alike will find themselves captivated by the detailed narrative that breathes life into the past, illuminating the complexities of international diplomacy and conflict. As part of the esteemed Gordon Casserly works, this book holds a place of significance in historical accounts of China, providing insights that resonate with the challenges of our contemporary global landscape. Whether you're a casual reader or a connoisseur of classic collections, this work invites you to explore the enduring impact of the early 20th century on our shared history.
Islas Filipinas - Administracion De Justicia; Memoria Dedicada ? La Exposicion Colonial De Amsterdam
In the shadow of towering colonial edifices, where justice was both a tool and a weapon, lies a forgotten narrative of the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. This rare literary gem, once out of print for decades, resurfaces through the dedicated efforts of Alpha Editions, offering a restored glimpse into the colonial justice system that shaped a nation. This edition is not just a reprint-it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, carefully preserved for today's and future generations. Delve into a profound historical legal analysis that unravels the complexities of justice administration during the 19th century Philippines. The text serves as an indispensable historical legal reference, shedding light on the intricate web of Spanish legal influence and colonial governance studies. For legal scholars and researchers, it offers an unparalleled justice administration study, rich with insights into the colonial era Philippines. The significance of this work goes beyond its pages; it is a bridge to understanding the foundations of modern legal systems within the context of colonial rule. Its revival not only honours the intellectual legacy of its time but also invites readers to reflect on the enduring impact of colonial governance. Whether you are a casual reader with a penchant for history or a collector of classic works, this edition promises to enrich your understanding of the legal history of the Philippines.
Japan And The Pacific, And A Japanese View Of The Eastern Question
In an era when the seas of the Pacific were not just waters but borders of burgeoning empires, a Japanese perspective on the Eastern Question emerges with striking clarity. This historical analysis book, once lost to the sands of time, is now reborn, offering a profound exploration of Japan's foreign policy during the transformative 19th century. As East Asia grappled with the tides of change, this work provides invaluable insights into the complex dance of international relations and pacific geopolitics that shaped the Meiji era. Rediscovered and republished by Alpha Editions after decades out of print, this edition has been meticulously restored for today's and future generations. It is not merely a reprint but a collector's item and a cultural treasure, offering a window into the mind of Manjiro Inagaki, whose observations continue to resonate with historians and researchers alike. The narrative captures the essence of an academic study, delving into the intricacies of the Eastern Question with a depth that appeals to both casual readers and those with a penchant for classic collections. In a world where the echoes of the past inform the present, this book stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of historical discourse. It invites readers to journey through the corridors of time, where the past and present converge in a tapestry woven with the threads of Japanese diplomacy and the ever-evolving landscape of East Asia.
United States Nuclear Strategy In South Asia
The book The United States Nuclear Strategy in South Asia examines the key challenges facing global and regional nonproliferation policies, with a focus on South Asia. It critiques inconsistent U.S. nonproliferation strategies that have inadvertently encouraged nuclear development in the region. The study explores shifts in U.S. policy toward India, highlighting how American scholars and policymakers reinterpreted their stance, leading to nuclear cooperation driven by U.S. national interests. It also discusses internal and external factors influencing nuclear proliferation in South Asia and analyzes the contradictory nature of U.S. nonproliferation goals, including the impact of the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal on India's nuclear policy.
William Prince Of Orange 1650-1673
In an era where thrones were as fragile as the alliances that supported them, the life of William III unfolds with all the drama and intrigue of a gripping historical biography. As the seventeenth century brimmed with political upheaval, William navigated the treacherous waters of European royal history, leaving an indelible mark on the house of Orange. This narrative, long out of print and now meticulously republished by Alpha Editions, has been restored for today's and future generations, offering both history enthusiasts and academic researchers a window into the monarchical power struggles that shaped the Netherlands and beyond. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, breathing new life into Marjorie Bowen's vivid portrayal of a pivotal era. Readers will find themselves immersed in the intricate dance of seventeenth century politics, where every decision could tilt the balance of power. As a resource for those passionate about European political history, and a delight for historical fiction readers, this book captures the essence of a time when personal ambition and national destiny were inextricably linked. Rediscover the timeless relevance of William's journey and the enduring legacy of the house of Orange, as this restored classic reclaims its place in the pantheon of great historical narratives.
If Russia Wins
A New Statesman Book of the YearA #1 international bestseller from a NATO expert, this deeply researched and chillingly plausible scenario imagines what might happen should Putin defeat Ukraine and not stop thereMarch 2028. Russian troops capture the small Estonian town of Narva and the island of Hiiumaa in the Baltic Sea. After a victorious peace deal in Ukraine, Putin's long-mooted encroachment into the Baltic states has begun. What if Ukraine was only the beginning? What will the NATO alliance decide? Will they risk nuclear war?Day by day and hour by hour, renowned political scientist Carlo Masala plays out what might happen when the President of the United States is called on to uphold NATO's commitment to mutual defense, just as China's maneuvers in Asia provide Russia with the perfect cover.A timely, gripping, and thought-provoking scenario, If Russia Wins shows how our world order is poised on a knife-edge. In the United States, we are accustomed to everything working out in our favor, in the end. But what if it doesn't?
The Taiwan Tinderbox
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shocked the world and overturned assumptions that large-scale conventional war was inconceivable in the twenty-first century. On the other side of the planet, democratic Taiwan faces the rising threat of a military takeover by China a conflict whose impact on the international community would be catastrophic. Renowned Taiwan expert and former intelligence officer J. Michael Cole explains how this Pacific nation has become a tinderbox that could ignite a full-scale global conflict. Drawing on unparalleled access to Taiwanese government sources and two decades of on-the-ground observation, he explores the root causes of the conflict between Taiwan and China - from the identity politics that make "peaceful unification" inconceivable, to the rise of Xi Jinping, the most powerful and authoritarian Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. With in-depth analysis of how the war in Europe is influencing preparations by Beijing, Taipei, and Washington for a potential cross-Strait confrontation, The Taiwan Tinderbox is an impassioned plea for the defense of Taiwan as a priority for the international community and the future of democracy.
Concerto
From International Bestselling Author Dennis Jones comes a espionage political thriller with a breakneck tale of remarkable realism and suspense of the highest order.In the chill hours of dawn, a TV mobile unit enters the high-security compound of the Soviet consulate outside New York City. Within minutes, nine men lie dead, and the Soviet Union's most powerful and respected leader-Mikhail Gorbachev-is missing.From the think-tanks of Washington to the alleyways of Paris and beneath the streets of Warsaw, the chase is on...into a labyrinth of murder, terrorism and conspiracy that threatens to swallow the political power-brokers from Capitol Hill to the Kremlin...unless they join the forces each has sworn to bury...
Jewish Blood Is No Longer Cheap
Jewish Blood Is No Longer Cheap draws stark parallels between current threats to Jews and Israel and the pre-Holocaust era in 1930s Germany. Invoking the Talmud's directive to preemptively defend against killers, it criticizes historical Jewish underreactions due to fears of overreacting, citing figures like Rabbi Stephen Wise and Felix Frankfurter. Professor Alan Dershowitz argues that Israel's military response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacres--killing over 1,400 Israelis--was a justified overreaction to centuries of cheap Jewish blood, emphasizing deterrence over proportionality. It rejects genocide accusations, contrasting Israel's collateral civilian deaths with Nazi extermination and Allied WWII bombings. The text explores the civilian-combatant continuum in Gaza, questioning the innocence of massacre supporters and doubting Hamas's casualty figures. It advocates population transfers for peace, citing post-WWII examples like Sudetenland and K繹nigsberg, proposing a demilitarized, rebuilt Gaza as a "Singapore on the Mediterranean." Dilemmas of hostage retrieval in democracies are examined, weighing military needs against family pressures. Israel is urged to prioritize security over public relations, amid global bias, and embody both Sparta's military prowess and Athens's technological and intellectual strength to counter threats like Iran's nuclear ambitions. Dershowitz calls for adapting morality preemptively against immoral foes to prevent recurrence. He warns of a pincer attack from right-wing (e.g., Tucker Carlson) and left-wing extremists (e.g., The Squad), posing political dilemmas for Jews, and advocates proactive steps to avert future disasters.
Modern China
Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring China is a country of huge economic influence, with ambitions to alter the balance of power between East and West. At the same time, many of its citizens live in poverty, while others occupy futuristic cities with advanced surveillance systems. Modern China: A Very Short Introduction by Rana Mitter offers an integrated picture of Chinese society, culture, economics, politics, and art. The author addresses China's current international status, examining the country's growth in political and financial significance in the 21st century. Professor Mitter also investigates China's changing foreign policy, the events and legacy of COVID era on the country, and the remarkable growth in China's technological innovation and its implications for the world. Modern China: A Very Short Introduction is a study of both the growing influence of Xi Jinping and of the society and structures that have lead to this position. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
A Time for Bravery
We are living at a critical point in history with the stubborn problems of rising inequality, rising fossil fuel production, and declining faith in democracy. This is a time for individuals, organisations, communities and our elected representatives to find the bravery we need to not just acknowledge, but address, the challenges we face.There is bravery out there right now, in Australia and around the world. And Australian history is full of acts of individual and collective bravery ranging from the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa to the campaign for equal rights for same sex couples: from the green bans in Sydney's Rocks to South Australia's commitment to 100 per cent renewable energy. We have changed ourselves and the world before; if we are brave, we can do so again.This book brings together advocates, politicians, campaigners, medical doctors, academics and a firefighter each with their answer to the question: what does bravery look like in Australia and how might it reshape our future for the better.
Afghanistan Under the Soviets 1979-87
Afghanistan Under the Soviets 1979-87." focusses on the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan during the specified time frame.The book explores the historical, political, and social aspects of Afghanistan's experience during the Soviet occupation from 1979 to 1987. It provides a detailed account of the events, challenges, and repercussions of the Soviet military presence in Afghanistan, the resistance by Afghan Mujahideen forces, the impact on Afghan society and culture, the role of external actors in the conflict, and the eventual withdrawal of Soviet forces.
The Stolen Billions
The Untold Story of Gaza's Billion-Dollar SecretIn the turbulent waters off Gaza's coast lies a secret worth billions-massive natural gas reserves that have remained largely untapped while conflict rages above. The Stolen Billions by the GEW Social Sciences Group exposes this hidden dimension of one of the world's most enduring conflicts, revealing how energy resources have become both prize and weapon in a struggle that extends far beyond traditional narratives.With a thought-provoking preface by Dr Hichem Karoui, this meticulously researched investigation uncovers the economic warfare that operates beneath the surface of political rhetoric. The authors demonstrate how the veiled conflict over natural resources shapes every aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian dynamic, from blockade policies to peace negotiations.This groundbreaking work examines: The discovery and promise of Gaza Marine-the region's most significant energy find How maritime rights have become contested battlegrounds The calculated economics of denial and systematic resource suppression Trump's peace initiatives and their connection to energy extraction The broader Mediterranean energy bonanza and its geopolitical ramificationsThe Stolen Billions reveals how control of offshore gas fields, based on exclusive interviews with former EU officials and a comprehensive analysis of policy documents, has influenced decades of decision-making at the highest levels. The book exposes the systematic tools of obstruction that have prevented the development of these resources and examines the true cost of blockade policies beyond their humanitarian impact.This isn't merely another political analysis-it's an economic detective story that follows the money trail behind major geopolitical decisions. The authors trace how Netanyahu's strategic calculations, Trump's Middle East vision, and international maritime law intersect around the question of Gaza's energy wealth.Essential reading for: University courses in international relations and Middle Eastern studiesPolicy researchers and diplomatic professionalsEnergy sector analysts and investorsLibraries are building comprehensive geopolitics collections.Readers of investigative non-fiction and political expos矇sThe Stolen Billions combines academic rigour with investigative journalism, making complex geopolitical realities accessible without sacrificing depth or nuance.
The Stolen Billions
The Untold Story of Gaza's Billion-Dollar SecretIn the turbulent waters off Gaza's coast lies a secret worth billions-massive natural gas reserves that have remained largely untapped while conflict rages above. The Stolen Billions by the GEW Social Sciences Group exposes this hidden dimension of one of the world's most enduring conflicts, revealing how energy resources have become both prize and weapon in a struggle that extends far beyond traditional narratives.With a thought-provoking preface by Dr Hichem Karoui, this meticulously researched investigation uncovers the economic warfare that operates beneath the surface of political rhetoric. The authors demonstrate how the veiled conflict over natural resources shapes every aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian dynamic, from blockade policies to peace negotiations.This groundbreaking work examines: The discovery and promise of Gaza Marine-the region's most significant energy find How maritime rights have become contested battlegrounds The calculated economics of denial and systematic resource suppression Trump's peace initiatives and their connection to energy extraction The broader Mediterranean energy bonanza and its geopolitical ramificationsThe Stolen Billions reveals how control of offshore gas fields, based on exclusive interviews with former EU officials and a comprehensive analysis of policy documents, has influenced decades of decision-making at the highest levels. The book exposes the systematic tools of obstruction that have prevented the development of these resources and examines the true cost of blockade policies beyond their humanitarian impact.This isn't merely another political analysis-it's an economic detective story that follows the money trail behind major geopolitical decisions. The authors trace how Netanyahu's strategic calculations, Trump's Middle East vision, and international maritime law intersect around the question of Gaza's energy wealth.Essential reading for: University courses in international relations and Middle Eastern studiesPolicy researchers and diplomatic professionalsEnergy sector analysts and investorsLibraries are building comprehensive geopolitics collections.Readers of investigative non-fiction and political expos矇sThe Stolen Billions combines academic rigour with investigative journalism, making complex geopolitical realities accessible without sacrificing depth or nuance.
Open Marxism vs. Sectarian Dogma
A Revolutionary Reassessment of Marx's Living LegacyErnest Mandel stands as one of the 20th century's most important Marxist theorists, yet his work remains systematically misrepresented by sectarian critics more interested in polemic scoring than genuine revolutionary dialogue. This collection exposes how the Alliance for Workers' Liberty fabricated false positions, distorted Mandel's economic analysis, and weaponized sectarian dishonesty against one of the Fourth International's greatest thinkers.WHY THIS BOOK MATTERS NOWIn an era where the international left faces unprecedented fragmentation and sectarian warfare, this book retrieves a crucial lesson: revolutionary unity requires intellectual honesty and genuine engagement with sophisticated Marxist analysis. Mandel's evolving approach to theory-his willingness to revise positions in light of new evidence, his integration of dialectical method with concrete analysis, his insistence that Marxism is a "living science" rather than dogma-offers today's activists an alternative to both bureaucratic conservatism and sectarian rigidity.WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVERPart One traces Mandel's intellectual evolution across the major political questions of the post-war period. From his early analysis of Maoism through his engagement with Yugoslavia's market socialism and his debates with Che Guevara over Cuban economic strategy, this section reveals how a genuine revolutionary theorist develops positions through rigorous engagement with historical realities rather than abstract formulas.Part Two directly confronts the AWL's systematic distortions: false crisis theory accusations, invented positions on China, fabricated claims about Mandel's views on the USSR's collapse, and outright falsification of historical records. This detailed demolition of sectarian polemic demonstrates how misrepresentation operates within the left and why intellectual standards matter for revolutionary politics.Part Three examines the 1953 East Berlin uprising, where sectarian dishonesty about Fourth International positions reveals how organizational memory gets destroyed and revolutionary history gets rewritten to serve narrow factional interests.WHY READ THIS NOW?Mandel died 30 years ago, but the questions he grappled with define our moment: Can isolated revolutions survive capitalist encirclement? How do revolutionary movements avoid bureaucratic degeneration? What role should democracy play in socialist construction? How do revolutionaries analyze hybrid systems that combine elements of workers' control with market mechanisms? What does internationalism actually require?Contemporary debates about Ukraine, Gaza, US imperialism, and Chinese developments cannot be adequately addressed without understanding how Mandel approached similar questions. His framework for analyzing deformed workers' states, his emphasis on democratic workers' control as the ultimate safeguard against bureaucracy, and his refusal to accept simplified nationalist apologies for Stalinist regimes offer essential political tools for today's activists.This book recovers Mandel's actual positions-not simplified caricatures-and demonstrates why open Marxism, rooted in rigorous theory and honest debate, remains the revolutionary alternative to both reformism and sectarianism.ESSENTIAL READING FOR: - Activists seeking rigorous analysis beyond sectarian dogma- People engaging with contemporary debates- Marxist theorists understanding post-war socialist developments- Revolutionaries committed to genuine left unity based on honest intellectual standards
The Great Heist
A definitive, headline-making expos矇 of how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has carried out the largest-scale theft of intellectual property, technology, and data in history--reshaping the global balance of power and redrawing the geopolitical map for decades to comeThe Great Heist exposes China's unprecedented state-orchestrated espionage campaign to strip the United States and its allies of their economic, technological, and military edge. Through a coordinated "whole-of-society" strategy, the Chinese Communist Party has dramatically expanded its covert operations to acquire America's most valuable innovations--stealing defense secrets and proprietary technology from companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Google, T-Mobile, and Tesla. By exploiting both human and cyber vulnerabilities, China has quietly looted the crown jewels of Western technology, saving itself trillions in R&D costs since the 1990s--with an ongoing brazenness fueled by decades of Western inaction.Drawing on exclusive investigations and interviews with intelligence officers, corporate security teams, senior policymakers, and espionage victims, David R. Shedd and Andrew Badger reveal how industrial theft has fueled China's meteoric rise from Third World backwater to global superpower--and present a bold strategic playbook to turn the tide in the greatest economic contest of our time.
The Multipolar World
The ground has shifted under your feet - not with a single earthquake, but with thousands of small tremors. Power no longer looks like a flag on a map; it looks like multipolar world logistics, geopolitics of supply chains, and compute capacity booked months in advance. If you have wondered why headlines promise control while prices, delays, and rules say otherwise, this book gives you the missing lens.It is a field guide to global power shifts that actually matter: access to chips and cables, leverage in alliances and minilaterals, and the quiet arithmetic behind dollar dominance and sanctions. You will learn how "systems competition" works - who sets standards, who owns chokepoints, and who pays when rules change mid-voyage. Written for founders, policy professionals, investors, and curious citizens, it translates abstractions into decisions you can make on Monday morning.- See how the rise of China creates scale and friction at once- Understand why Europe strategic autonomy is a constraint and an opportunity- Read India swing state choices as market signals, not mysteries- Spot where Africa demographics growth becomes real bargaining powerBy the final chapter you will think more clearly, plan with fewer blind spots, and act with practical resilience. You will know where to add redundancy, when to hedge, and how to read the world as a stack of systems instead of a tug-of-war between empires. In a century with many centres, clarity is the rarest advantage.
The Invisible Wars
Power today is exercised in quiet rooms and cached files, not on battlefields. If you want to understand why a headline moves markets, why a lawsuit reroutes a supply chain, or why a rumour becomes policy, this is your field guide to the grey zone conflict that shapes your life.This book exposes how states win with economic sanctions, information warfare, lawfare and geopolitics, currency warfare, and cyber operations-then gives you clear tools to read the signals and resist being played.-Learn how narratives are engineered and how to verify before you share-See how payment rails, ratings, and standards become weapons without warning labels-Build practical defences at home, at work, and in your cityWritten for policy professionals, executives, journalists, and curious citizens, it makes the invisible visible with case studies, causal maps, and a no-drama vocabulary for complex systems. You will finish with a dashboard for cyber operations strategy, a checklist for sanctions that punish architects rather than populations, and a civic ethic for non-kinetic deterrence that preserves legitimacy. If you're seeking information warfare explained without hype-and a sober path from alarm to agency-start here.
Cyber Empires
When power no longer needs boots to cross a border, it arrives through updates, outages, and the quiet recalibration of your daily choices. This book takes you inside the global contest where nations and their proxies fight for control of digital sovereignty, where state hackers explain becomes the language of geopolitics, and where hospitals, schools, and small firms are collateral in a struggle for AI in conflict and influence. It shows how data colonisation works in practice-who extracts value, who bears risk-and why the rise of the surveillance state critique concerns every voter, parent, and owner.You will see how ransomware became foreign policy, how platforms shape elections, and how the coming shift to post-quantum security might break what we trust today. Along the way, you get a clear playbook for protecting citizens online and cybersecurity for small businesses: realistic baselines, smarter procurement, and habits that reduce everyday harm. If you have sensed that the world is moving under your feet but lacked the map, this is it.- Understand the five-layer stack that decides who holds power- Read incidents like an analyst-and policies like a citizen- Act with confidence, without surrendering libertyFor readers who want more than fear or hype, this is a guide to the real battlefield of cyber warfare book stakes: code, clouds, and the choices that protect what matters.
Shadow Diplomacy
You are not meant to know how history bends-only to feel the jolt when it does. This book opens the door to the rooms where adversaries speak plainly, where secret diplomacy keeps leaders from cornering themselves in public and gives wars an off-ramp before they ignite. If you have ever wondered why official statements and outcomes rarely match, you will find the answer in the choreography of backchannel negotiations.Across gripping narratives-from Cuban Missile Crisis diplomacy to the audacious Nixon China opening, from a kitchen table behind the Oslo Accords secrets to the Muscat line that shaped the Iran nuclear deal backchannel-you will meet spy diplomats, unlikely mediators, and Track II veterans who practise the risky art of trust. Along the way, you will learn how signals are sent without being said, how ambiguity is engineered, and why the role of mediators in peace is both fragile and decisive.- For readers of serious nonfiction who want clarity over myth and method over slogans- For professionals who need a field guide to Track II diplomacy and accountable secrecy- For citizens who wish to judge when hidden talks serve the public good-and when they do notBy the end, you will read crises differently: parsing signals, timing, and leverage with a cool eye-an analyst's lens on international relations realpolitik that is accessible, humane, and immediately useful. If public diplomacy is theatre, this is the backstage map.
Private Armies
A war can be fought without a declaration, a uniform, or a vote. It only needs a contract. This book exposes how hired force moves decisions from parliaments to procurement desks, turning sovereignty into something you can rent and responsibility into something you can evade. If you want to understand today's private military companies, the Wagner headlines, and the legacy of Blackwater, start here.Across gripping case studies and clear models, you'll see how mercenaries in modern war operate as businesses, how accountability in private security breaks on purpose, and why the laws of war contractors navigate are built with loopholes. You'll follow the money through "security for resources" deals, track the rise of drone and cyber mercenaries, and learn how markets manufacture deniable warfare. This is for readers who care about democracy, human rights, and hard policy design as much as frontline stories.- What governments really buy when they outsource force- How oversight fails and what a fix with teeth looks like- Where Wagner Group in Africa fits within a global pattern- How to recognise a security for resources deals script before it unfoldsBy the end, you'll carry a practical lens for spotting marketised violence, a language to interrogate it, and a policy playbook to demand change. If you are searching for regulating PMCs that actually works, this book trades buzzwords for tools and gives you a way to read the next conflict before it hits the news.
The New Silk Roads
Power is moving from parliaments to ports-and most people are not looking. This book reveals how concrete, code and contracts decide who prospers, who pays and who must ask permission. If you care about Belt and Road Initiative debates, supply chains, or the next map of commerce, this is your field guide.You will learn a simple method to read any corridor. It shows how financing, standards and the fine print turn engineering into leverage. It explains the arguments around the so-called China debt trap debate without slogans, and maps the choices facing Europe, America and India. For investors, policy teams and serious readers of world affairs, it offers practical clarity on global trade routes and the politics of infrastructure diplomacy.Decode how ports, rails and fibre shift bargaining powerSee how contracts, not headlines, create dependence or autonomyUnderstand the real options behind US China rivalry trade and India corridor strategyApply a portable checklist to test projects before they test youWritten in clean, accessible prose, it replaces noise with judgment. Whether you follow geoeconomics of infrastructure, ask what the BRI book crowd is missing, or want a grounded take on the new silk road book, you will finish with a durable mental model. The next decade will be decided by routes. Learn to read them-and act before the map hardens.
The Great Resource Race
When the world runs hot, power flows to whoever controls the tap. This book shows how governments and companies are quietly competing to command resource geopolitics-the flows of water, food, minerals, and energy that keep societies alive. It explains why headlines about petrostate politics or resource nationalism are really stories about chokepoints, substitutability, and time-to-switch-and how those forces will touch your bills, your job, and your community.Designed for readers who want clarity without complacency, it maps the systems behind water wars, rare earths supply chain shocks, and the fragile routes that feed cities. You will see why energy transition minerals are the new leverage, how semiconductor water use turns permits into power, and why food insecurity and grain corridors now shape elections as much as harvests. More importantly, you'll gain a practical method to assess exposure and build resilient supply chains-at home, at work, and in public life.-Learn to read risk like a strategist, not a spectator-Spot which dependencies matter, and which headlines don't-Use simple tools to reduce vulnerability without panicIf you care about security, prices, or fairness in an age of stress-and if you prefer competence over noise-this is your field guide to the politics of flow, from resource geopolitics to climate migration security.
Private Armies
A war can be fought without a declaration, a uniform, or a vote. It only needs a contract. This book exposes how hired force moves decisions from parliaments to procurement desks, turning sovereignty into something you can rent and responsibility into something you can evade. If you want to understand today's private military companies, the Wagner headlines, and the legacy of Blackwater, start here.Across gripping case studies and clear models, you'll see how mercenaries in modern war operate as businesses, how accountability in private security breaks on purpose, and why the laws of war contractors navigate are built with loopholes. You'll follow the money through "security for resources" deals, track the rise of drone and cyber mercenaries, and learn how markets manufacture deniable warfare. This is for readers who care about democracy, human rights, and hard policy design as much as frontline stories.- What governments really buy when they outsource force- How oversight fails and what a fix with teeth looks like- Where Wagner Group in Africa fits within a global pattern- How to recognise a security for resources deals script before it unfoldsBy the end, you'll carry a practical lens for spotting marketised violence, a language to interrogate it, and a policy playbook to demand change. If you are searching for regulating PMCs that actually works, this book trades buzzwords for tools and gives you a way to read the next conflict before it hits the news.
Shadow Diplomacy
You are not meant to know how history bends-only to feel the jolt when it does. This book opens the door to the rooms where adversaries speak plainly, where secret diplomacy keeps leaders from cornering themselves in public and gives wars an off-ramp before they ignite. If you have ever wondered why official statements and outcomes rarely match, you will find the answer in the choreography of backchannel negotiations.Across gripping narratives-from Cuban Missile Crisis diplomacy to the audacious Nixon China opening, from a kitchen table behind the Oslo Accords secrets to the Muscat line that shaped the Iran nuclear deal backchannel-you will meet spy diplomats, unlikely mediators, and Track II veterans who practise the risky art of trust. Along the way, you will learn how signals are sent without being said, how ambiguity is engineered, and why the role of mediators in peace is both fragile and decisive.- For readers of serious nonfiction who want clarity over myth and method over slogans- For professionals who need a field guide to Track II diplomacy and accountable secrecy- For citizens who wish to judge when hidden talks serve the public good-and when they do notBy the end, you will read crises differently: parsing signals, timing, and leverage with a cool eye-an analyst's lens on international relations realpolitik that is accessible, humane, and immediately useful. If public diplomacy is theatre, this is the backstage map.
Currency Wars
Money is no longer just a measure of value-it is the frontline of global power. From frozen reserves to blocked payment networks, nations today fight wars through banks and balance sheets rather than battlefields. This book exposes how currency wars are reshaping the twenty-first century, showing why the struggle over the world's money matters to governments, corporations, and individuals alike.Readers are taken inside the hidden architecture of dollar dominance, from the Bretton Woods legacy to the petrodollar pact, and shown why every attempt at dedollarisation faces resistance. The narrative uncovers how financial sanctions cripple economies, why Europe's euro remains constrained, and how China's digital yuan is quietly building new rails of influence. Along the way, it explores the rise of central bank digital currencies, the fragile experiments of cryptocurrencies, and the political drama inside institutions like the IMF and World Bank.This book is for business leaders, policymakers, and curious citizens who want to understand how finance has become a weapon-and what that means for their own future. By the end, readers will gain a mental map for interpreting headlines, decoding crises, and anticipating shifts in global monetary power.- Learn why the dollar still dominates and what signals reveal real change- Understand how sanctions, debt, and digital money shape geopolitics- Discover how institutions like the IMF turn lending into politicsUrgent, precise, and deeply researched, it offers clarity in a world where money is no longer neutral but a battlefield-and where knowing the rules can mean the difference between security and vulnerability.
The New Silk Roads
Power is moving from parliaments to ports-and most people are not looking. This book reveals how concrete, code and contracts decide who prospers, who pays and who must ask permission. If you care about Belt and Road Initiative debates, supply chains, or the next map of commerce, this is your field guide.You will learn a simple method to read any corridor. It shows how financing, standards and the fine print turn engineering into leverage. It explains the arguments around the so-called China debt trap debate without slogans, and maps the choices facing Europe, America and India. For investors, policy teams and serious readers of world affairs, it offers practical clarity on global trade routes and the politics of infrastructure diplomacy.Decode how ports, rails and fibre shift bargaining powerSee how contracts, not headlines, create dependence or autonomyUnderstand the real options behind US China rivalry trade and India corridor strategyApply a portable checklist to test projects before they test youWritten in clean, accessible prose, it replaces noise with judgment. Whether you follow geoeconomics of infrastructure, ask what the BRI book crowd is missing, or want a grounded take on the new silk road book, you will finish with a durable mental model. The next decade will be decided by routes. Learn to read them-and act before the map hardens.
Cyber Empires
When power no longer needs boots to cross a border, it arrives through updates, outages, and the quiet recalibration of your daily choices. This book takes you inside the global contest where nations and their proxies fight for control of digital sovereignty, where state hackers explain becomes the language of geopolitics, and where hospitals, schools, and small firms are collateral in a struggle for AI in conflict and influence. It shows how data colonisation works in practice-who extracts value, who bears risk-and why the rise of the surveillance state critique concerns every voter, parent, and owner.You will see how ransomware became foreign policy, how platforms shape elections, and how the coming shift to post-quantum security might break what we trust today. Along the way, you get a clear playbook for protecting citizens online and cybersecurity for small businesses: realistic baselines, smarter procurement, and habits that reduce everyday harm. If you have sensed that the world is moving under your feet but lacked the map, this is it.- Understand the five-layer stack that decides who holds power- Read incidents like an analyst-and policies like a citizen- Act with confidence, without surrendering libertyFor readers who want more than fear or hype, this is a guide to the real battlefield of cyber warfare book stakes: code, clouds, and the choices that protect what matters.
The Great Resource Race
When the world runs hot, power flows to whoever controls the tap. This book shows how governments and companies are quietly competing to command resource geopolitics-the flows of water, food, minerals, and energy that keep societies alive. It explains why headlines about petrostate politics or resource nationalism are really stories about chokepoints, substitutability, and time-to-switch-and how those forces will touch your bills, your job, and your community.Designed for readers who want clarity without complacency, it maps the systems behind water wars, rare earths supply chain shocks, and the fragile routes that feed cities. You will see why energy transition minerals are the new leverage, how semiconductor water use turns permits into power, and why food insecurity and grain corridors now shape elections as much as harvests. More importantly, you'll gain a practical method to assess exposure and build resilient supply chains-at home, at work, and in public life.-Learn to read risk like a strategist, not a spectator-Spot which dependencies matter, and which headlines don't-Use simple tools to reduce vulnerability without panicIf you care about security, prices, or fairness in an age of stress-and if you prefer competence over noise-this is your field guide to the politics of flow, from resource geopolitics to climate migration security.
The Spiritual Power of Russian Imperial Statehood
The population of every more or less large and successful state has a certain spiritual core around which its social activity is built. For Russia, in our opinion, the basic values of such a spiritual core were commitment to the conservative Orthodox tradition and collectivism, supplemented by a third constantly developing value the imperial-Eurasian worldview. The chronological framework of the monograph covers the period from Kievan-Novgorod Rus to the present day. The book will be useful not only for researchers and university teachers, but also for students studying in programs for training lawyers, political scientists, and historians.
Silk Mirage
Silk Mirage is a compelling portrait of Uzbekistan, a country at the heart of the ancient Silk Road and now the centre of a power struggle between reformers and reactionaries for the soul of this strategic land in Central Asia. In 2016, the long-ruling dictator Islam Karimov - one of the last Soviet-era strongmen - died, sparking a period of transformation under his successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which became known as the 'Uzbek Spring'. But, as investigative journalist Joanna Lillis shows, spring has struggled to break through in one of the world's most repressive and totalitarian states. As one of the few western journalists with access to Uzbekistan and with over two decades of experience covering the country, Lillis travels deep into the heart of the Karimov regime, portraying all the excesses and atrocities that made it such a brutal dictatorship. She also penetrates the system that replaced it, exploring how life has changed for Uzbeks under Mirziyoyev's rule - and how it has not. A tale of both reform and repression, this book illustrates the challenges of dragging a country out of dictatorship. Lillis explores Uzbekistan's politics, economics, history, arts and culture - and asks where the country stands nearly a decade after the death of its dictator, and 600 years since its ancient capital Samarkand was the centre of the world's trade network. Lillis weaves in the extraordinary stories of ordinary people: from politicians to former political prisoners, from journalists to human rights crusaders, from entrepreneurs to environmentalists, from artists to architects, from silk makers to carpet weavers. Conjuring up Uzbekistan as a place full of life and loss, Silk Mirage tells the stories of courageous people who probe to find the cracks in an authoritarian regime through which the light gets in.
