Issues in Contemporary Diplomacy (III)
Track II Diplomacy: Informal Paths To Peace concludes the authoritative trilogy "Issues in Contemporary Diplomacy" with an in-depth exploration of diplomacy's most discreet yet effective approach. This scholarly work illuminates a diplomatic methodology that deliberately shuns publicity, considering anonymity one of its fundamental conditions for success.The volume offers a comprehensive and detailed analysis of Track II diplomacy's historical development, systematically comparing it with traditional first-track approaches whilst highlighting essential differences, benefits, operational roles, and action mechanisms. Through meticulous research, the book traces Track II's evolution from classical diplomatic traditions through to contemporary digital-age applications, emphasising both distinctions and synergies between formal and informal diplomatic tracks.Readers will discover practical models, real-world examples, and sophisticated analysis of strategies, methodologies, and the political and social contexts that define successful Track II operations. The work extensively reviews elements contributing to second-track diplomacy's effectiveness, particularly examining scenarios where conventional diplomatic efforts have reached an impasse.Drawing from extensive case studies and practical lessons, the analysis provides evidence-based insights into what makes Track II diplomacy successful. The book concludes with actionable recommendations for addressing contemporary global challenges through informal diplomatic channels.Published under the auspices of the Diplomatic Institute of Qatar, this work represents a significant contribution to diplomatic literature. Designed to support professional diplomatic training and international relations education, it serves practitioners, academics, and policymakers seeking to understand and implement the informal mechanisms that often prove decisive when formal diplomacy fails.
Issues in Contemporary Diplomacy (III)
Track II Diplomacy: Informal Paths To Peace concludes the authoritative trilogy "Issues in Contemporary Diplomacy" with an in-depth exploration of diplomacy's most discreet yet effective approach. This scholarly work illuminates a diplomatic methodology that deliberately shuns publicity, considering anonymity one of its fundamental conditions for success.The volume offers a comprehensive and detailed analysis of Track II diplomacy's historical development, systematically comparing it with traditional first-track approaches whilst highlighting essential differences, benefits, operational roles, and action mechanisms. Through meticulous research, the book traces Track II's evolution from classical diplomatic traditions through to contemporary digital-age applications, emphasising both distinctions and synergies between formal and informal diplomatic tracks.Readers will discover practical models, real-world examples, and sophisticated analysis of strategies, methodologies, and the political and social contexts that define successful Track II operations. The work extensively reviews elements contributing to second-track diplomacy's effectiveness, particularly examining scenarios where conventional diplomatic efforts have reached an impasse.Drawing from extensive case studies and practical lessons, the analysis provides evidence-based insights into what makes Track II diplomacy successful. The book concludes with actionable recommendations for addressing contemporary global challenges through informal diplomatic channels.Published under the auspices of the Diplomatic Institute of Qatar, this work represents a significant contribution to diplomatic literature. Designed to support professional diplomatic training and international relations education, it serves practitioners, academics, and policymakers seeking to understand and implement the informal mechanisms that often prove decisive when formal diplomacy fails.
The Case for American Power
A provocative case for why a better world is only possible with American power by Washington Post columnist Shadi Hamid. From acclaimed author Shadi Hamid comes an urgent and deeply personal argument for why American dominance, despite its many flaws, remains the world's best hope. Hamid traces his journey from opposing America's role in the world to reluctantly embracing it--while grappling with how recent events, from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Israel's devastating war in Gaza, have challenged his convictions. Drawing on his unique perspective as both an American and a Muslim who came of age in the shadow of the September 11 attacks, Hamid contends with the contradictions of American power: how a nation founded on moral purpose so often fails to live up to its ideals. Hamid confronts head-on America's failures, from the war in Iraq to support for authoritarian regimes across the Middle East. Yet, he argues that in a world where power is a fact and someone must wield it, the alternative to American leadership isn't a morally perfect superpower--it's the brutal authoritarianism of countries like China and Russia. At once idealistic and pragmatic, this is a book about embracing our power as the only moral option in a world beset by tragedy. Because America is a democracy, it retains the potential to correct past mistakes and change for the better. That part is up to us. Bracing and timely, The Case for American Power is an ambitious work on what may be the most fundamental question facing America today: How should we think about the power we have--while we still have it?
What Are Nuclear Weapons For?
Peacekeepers, effective deterrent or potential cause of ultimate disaster? Understanding what nuclear weapons are for has never been more essential. This book traces the history of nuclear weapons from their first use in 1945 when they brought the Second World War to an end, through the Cold War when they gave rise to peace movements and disarmament efforts to the ominous nuclear landscape today. Shamai shows how nuclear weapons have, to date, been a deterrent by raising the stakes of war and thereby reducing the chances of certain kinds of conflict. But, she warns, this is not a permanent situation - its continuation depends on the world's reaction to this threat and ongoing vigilance.
The Good Fight
The 100th issue of Australia's leading agenda-setting journal of politics, culture and debateIn Quarterly Essay 100, Sean Kelly considers the enigma of the Albanese government. With wide yet shallow support, will it change the country? Does it have big ideas, or is it content just to become "the natural party of government"?Kelly gives a definitive account of Albanese's political style and asks what lies behind it. In speaking to a fragmented, disengaged electorate, the Prime Minister places a high value on moderation. Often that means ducking fights with entrenched interests. But this runs the risk of embedding an ever more unequal nation, led by a government that can seem gutless.In this subtle and brilliant essay, Kelly explores whether Labor is still up for the good fight."Labor has cast itself as a version of what the conservatives once were: the defender of the way things are. This may well appeal to large numbers of Australians, as it did in this last election. [But] Labor's task, historically, has been to change things on behalf of those who desperately need them to change." -Sean Kelly, The Good Fight
Issues in Contemporary Diplomacy (I)
Issues in Contemporary Diplomacy (I): The Art of Diplomacy - Its Development and Modern Forms represents a scholarly examination of diplomatic evolution, published by Global East-West London in collaboration with The Diplomatic Institute, Doha. Author Hichem Karoui delivers a meticulously researched analysis of how diplomatic practices have developed from ancient times through contemporary digital transformation. This authoritative text traces diplomacy's journey through pivotal historical periods, examining how the Middle Ages, European Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, and 20th-century conflicts have shaped modern diplomatic methodology. The volume systematically explores diverse diplomatic forms: traditional protocols, public diplomacy's role in shaping global opinion, economic negotiations between major powers, cultural diplomacy's impact on international relations, and the revolutionary effects of digital technology on diplomatic communication.Particularly valuable for academic institutions and professional development programmes, the book addresses emerging diplomatic players, including NGOs and multinational corporations, whilst examining multilateral diplomacy within international organisations. Each chapter concludes with comprehensive notes and references, ensuring scholarly rigour.Ambassador Dr Abdulaziz Al-Hurr's foreword emphasises the work's significance for diplomatic training, specifically designed to support Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel and international relations students. The Diplomatic Institute's commitment to building specialised diplomatic literature makes this volume essential for professional libraries and academic collections.From environmental diplomacy addressing contemporary challenges to crisis management strategies, the book provides practical insights into diplomatic successes and failures. This comprehensive resource bridges historical understanding with modern application, making complex diplomatic concepts accessible to both practitioners and scholars. As the first volume in a trilogy, it establishes the foundation for understanding contemporary diplomatic challenges and opportunities in our interconnected world.
The EU's Limited Leverage
The EU's Limited Leverage: Normative Power vs. Gulf Realpolitik offers a rigorous and timely analysis of one of the most significant challenges in contemporary international relations. The European Union has long defined its global role through the lens of "normative power", seeking to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as universal standards. This ambition, however, faces a formidable test in its relationship with the energy-rich Gulf states, whose policies are driven by a pragmatic and often contradictory realpolitik.Edited by Hichem Karoui, this scholarly volume systematically unpacks the inherent tensions in EU foreign policy. It starts by explaining the basic ideas of normative and soft power, then looks at the power relationships in the Gulf region and the complicated history between the EU and the Gulf states. The book exposes the frequent disconnect between the Union's ideals and the on-the-ground demands of geopolitics, where the need for energy security often compels compromises that challenge the EU's moral credibility.Featuring in-depth case studies and a critical examination of the "paradox of dependence," the book explores how the strategic and economic interests of key member states can fragment the EU's collective foreign policy. More than just a diagnosis of the problem, the book concludes by offering "Practical Strategies for the EU to Enhance Normative Leverage" and a forward-looking perspective on the future of this critical relationship. This is an indispensable resource for students, academics, and policymakers in the fields of European studies, international relations, Middle Eastern politics, and foreign policy analysis.
The EU's Limited Leverage
The EU's Limited Leverage: Normative Power vs. Gulf Realpolitik offers a rigorous and timely analysis of one of the most significant challenges in contemporary international relations. The European Union has long defined its global role through the lens of "normative power", seeking to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as universal standards. This ambition, however, faces a formidable test in its relationship with the energy-rich Gulf states, whose policies are driven by a pragmatic and often contradictory realpolitik.Edited by Hichem Karoui, this scholarly volume systematically unpacks the inherent tensions in EU foreign policy. It starts by explaining the basic ideas of normative and soft power, then looks at the power relationships in the Gulf region and the complicated history between the EU and the Gulf states. The book exposes the frequent disconnect between the Union's ideals and the on-the-ground demands of geopolitics, where the need for energy security often compels compromises that challenge the EU's moral credibility.Featuring in-depth case studies and a critical examination of the "paradox of dependence," the book explores how the strategic and economic interests of key member states can fragment the EU's collective foreign policy. More than just a diagnosis of the problem, the book concludes by offering "Practical Strategies for the EU to Enhance Normative Leverage" and a forward-looking perspective on the future of this critical relationship. This is an indispensable resource for students, academics, and policymakers in the fields of European studies, international relations, Middle Eastern politics, and foreign policy analysis.
The Art of Diplomacy
Issues in Contemporary Diplomacy (I): The Art of Diplomacy - Its Development and Modern Forms represents a scholarly examination of diplomatic evolution, published by Global East-West London in collaboration with The Diplomatic Institute, Doha. Author Hichem Karoui delivers a meticulously researched analysis of how diplomatic practices have developed from ancient times through contemporary digital transformation. This authoritative text traces diplomacy's journey through pivotal historical periods, examining how the Middle Ages, European Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, and 20th-century conflicts have shaped modern diplomatic methodology. The volume systematically explores diverse diplomatic forms: traditional protocols, public diplomacy's role in shaping global opinion, economic negotiations between major powers, cultural diplomacy's impact on international relations, and the revolutionary effects of digital technology on diplomatic communication.Particularly valuable for academic institutions and professional development programmes, the book addresses emerging diplomatic players, including NGOs and multinational corporations, whilst examining multilateral diplomacy within international organisations. Each chapter concludes with comprehensive notes and references, ensuring scholarly rigour.Ambassador Dr Abdulaziz Al-Hurr's foreword emphasises the work's significance for diplomatic training, specifically designed to support Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel and international relations students. The Diplomatic Institute's commitment to building specialised diplomatic literature makes this volume essential for professional libraries and academic collections.From environmental diplomacy addressing contemporary challenges to crisis management strategies, the book provides practical insights into diplomatic successes and failures. This comprehensive resource bridges historical understanding with modern application, making complex diplomatic concepts accessible to both practitioners and scholars. As the first volume in a trilogy, it establishes the foundation for understanding contemporary diplomatic challenges and opportunities in our interconnected world.
Killing Machines
What causes a Western democratic leader to stop even feigning to value the law of war? Unlike past US presidents, who at least paid lip service to the law of armed conflict, Donald Trump has openly flouted it: pardoning war criminals; denigrating the Geneva Conventions; praising torture; and discarding military norms of restraint. This gripping account depicts how Trump has upended assumptions about America's outward commitment to the law of war, exposing the conditions that make such defiance possible. Drawing on in-depth case studies and original survey analysis, Thomas Gift explains how Trump has relied on right-wing media and allies in Congress to attack the law of war - not in the shadows, but in broad daylight. Killing Machines cautions that Trump's approach is not an aberration - it's a playbook other leaders could follow. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Blaming China
American society is angrier, more fragmented, and more polarized than at any time since the Civil War. We harbor deep insecurities about our economic future, our place in the world, our response to terrorism, and our deeply dysfunctional government. Over the next several years, Benjamin Shobert says, these four insecurities will be perverted and projected onto China in an attempt to shift blame for errors entirely of our own making. These misdirections will be satisfying in the short term but will eventually destabilize the global world that businesses, consumers, and governments have taken for granted for the last forty years and will usher in an age of geopolitical uncertainty characterized by regional conflict and increasing economic dislocation. Shobert, a senior associate at the National Bureau of Asian Research, explores how America's attitudes toward China have changed and how our economic anxieties and political dysfunction have laid the foundation for turning our collective frustrations away from acknowledging the consequences of our own poor decisions. Shobert argues that unless we address these problems, a disastrous chapter in American life is right around the corner, one in which Americans will decide that conflict with China is the only sensible option. After framing how the American public thinks about China, Shobert offers two alternative paths forward. He proposes steps that businesses, governments, and individuals can take to potentially stop and reverse America's path to a dystopian future.
The Finest Hotel in Kabul
A NATIONAL BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE The story of a hotel. The story of a nation. When the Inter-Continental Kabul opened in 1969, Afghanistan's first luxury hotel symbolised a dream of a modernising country connected to the world. More than fifty years on, the Inter-Continental is still standing. It has endured Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a grievous civil war, a US invasion and the rise, fall and rise of the Taliban. History lives within its scarred windows and walls. Lyse Doucet, the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, has been checking into the Inter-Continental since 1988. And here, she uses its story to craft a richly immersive history of modern Afghanistan. It is the story of Hazrat, the septuagenarian housekeeper who still holds fast to his Inter-Continental training from the hotel's 1970s glory days--an era of haute cuisine and high fashion, when Afghanistan was a kingdom and Kabul was the 'Paris of Asia'. It is the story of Abida, who became the first female chef to cook in the Inter-Con's famous kitchen after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. And it is the story of Malalai and Sadeq, the twenty-something staff who seized every opportunity offered by two decades of fragile democracy--only to witness the Taliban roaring back in 2021. The result is a remarkably vivid history of how Afghans have survived a half century of destruction and disruption. It is the story of a hotel but also the story of a people.
The Mango Flavour
"This book captures the essence of India-ASEAN partnership and reflects the values Ambassador Singh has long championed-dialogue, mutual respect and a commitment to peace and shared prosperity. I am confident that readers will find valuable insights and enduring lessons from one of India's foremost diplomatic voices in these pages."-Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brunei DarussalamAmbassador Gurjit Singh was India's Ambassador to ASEAN during my tenure as ASEAN Secretary General. This book provides a profound insight into how the India-ASEAN relationship has evolved and how it may further develop in the new phase of a comprehensive strategic partnership.-L礙 Luong Minh, Former ASEAN Secretary General (2013-17)"Ambassador Gurjit Singh has written an accessible and analytical account of the India-ASEAN relationship and its recent evolution. With his personal experience of shepherding this relationship, which has the potential to be one of India's most significant external engagements, his account and insights deserve a close reading. This is a book that I would highly recommend to all those interested in the course of this rapidly evolving and increasingly significant part of the world."-Shankar Menon, Former National Security Advisor of India"The Act East Policy, which evolves from an economic to a multi-dimensional partnership, revitalized India's ties with ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific. Using his personal experience in the region, Ambassador Gurjit Singh offers a readable and insightful analysis of this evolving relationship and explores its growth and future potential in a shifting global landscape."-Amitabh Kant, India's G20 Sherpa 2022-25
Banging on the Walls of the Tank
Banging on the Walls of the Tank is a collection of reflections and analysis written over eighteen years in Gaza by Palestinian academic and activist, Haidar Eid. Providing an insider's perspective on the blockade of Gaza since 2007, the Israeli attacks in 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2021, the Great March of Return, and the ongoing genocide committed by the apartheid Israeli state, Eid's essays examine political alternatives, opportunities for resistance, and prospects for a just peace after more than a century of dispossession.
Defending Taiwan
Sober, balanced, rigorously researched, and eminently readable, Defending Taiwan is a definitive guide to preventing World War III. Taiwan is where the uneasy peace between the United States and China will be tested--and possibly broken. Beijing believes that "reunification" is inevitable. American military strength has preserved peace and stability for decades, but its advantages are eroding. Beijing has found critical gaps in U.S. strategy and is working to squeeze, isolate, and coerce Taiwan into submission without firing a shot. If deterrence fails, the consequences of a Taiwan crisis would be catastrophic--plunging the global economy into chaos, shattering U.S. alliances, and allowing China to dominate the region and reshape the world order. In Defending Taiwan, Eyck Freymann presents the first integrated strategy to deter war with China and preserve an honorable peace. Drawing on untranslated Chinese sources, cutting-edge military and economic analysis, and deep historical research, Freymann argues that Washington's deterrence strategy must extend beyond conventional military power and familiar threats of mutually assured destruction. America must work with allies to develop a bold new vision of technological and economic statecraft--and a plan to secure its interests if deterrence fails. Freymann examines China's full range of strategic options. The United States can deter them all. But to do so, it must integrate its military strength, economic leverage, technological leadership, and diplomatic influence into a single, coherent plan to prevent war. This is not just a book about Taiwan. It is a grand strategy to ensure lasting stability in the U.S.-China relationship. Defending Taiwan is the definitive guide to the world's most dangerous geopolitical challenge.
Blood in the Cloud
The most decisive shift in modern conflict is invisible. Battles now run on rented servers, predictive models, and global data pipes owned by private entities-turning code, contracts, and uptime into instruments of power. This is a clear-eyed, accessible investigation of cloud warfare and how it is quietly redefining who commands force, who is accountable, and what citizens must guard to preserve digital sovereignty.Grounded in history, policy, and systems thinking, it reveals how states increasingly lean on private military infrastructure to run logistics, intelligence, and targeting; how algorithmic command shapes decisions at speed and scale; and how everyday platforms double as surveillance infrastructure. Instead of hype or alarmism, it offers a rigorous map of incentives, dependencies, and risks-the first practical lens on the emerging cloud-military complex and the wider geopolitics of the cloud that now binds allies, adversaries, and civilians alike.Built for thoughtful readers-policy professionals, journalists, technologists, and engaged citizens-it delivers concrete clarity without jargon. Inside, you'll encounter: - How subscription models and service-level agreements make outsourced defense both irresistibly convenient and dangerously sticky; - Why jurisdiction, data location, and vendor lock-in complicate oversight, deterrence, and democratic control; - What new checks, disclosures, and procurement norms can restore balance between security and rights.By the end, you'll have a durable mental model for navigating technology and war today: how infrastructure decides outcomes, how incentives shape strategy, and which questions to ask whenever a system claims to make us safer. A cyberwar analysis book for real-world decision-makers, it replaces noise with understanding-so readers can see the levers of power hidden in plain sight and act with foresight, not fear.
Blue Destiny - Why India and the World's Future Converge in the Indian Ocean
The waters stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca are more than trade routes-they are the arteries of the modern world. Whoever secures these sea lanes decides the flow of energy, commerce, and influence in the century ahead. This is the story of how the Indian Ocean geopolitics is reshaping global power, and why nations from Beijing to Washington anxiously watch every move made in Delhi.For centuries, the Indian Ocean carried spices, ideas, and empires. Today, it carries nearly all of Asia's oil, trillions in goods, and the fragile lifelines of globalization. But these waters are also crowded with threats: piracy off Somalia, great-power rivalry, climate shocks, and battles over undersea infrastructure. At the heart of it lies a question: can India transform from a land-focused state into a true maritime power, or will it surrender the stage to others?This book is for readers who want to understand the world's future through the prism of its most contested waters. It speaks to those curious about India's maritime strategy, the stakes of the Indo-Pacific sea power race, and why oil routes through Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb are as critical as nuclear weapons. It brings alive China's String of Pearls ports, the vulnerabilities of global shipping, and the hidden role of undersea cables security in the Indian Ocean.By the final page, you'll see the ocean not as blue space on a map but as a circulatory system of modern life. You will gain a sharper mental map of the Indian Ocean trade routes, the fragile balance of Quad maritime strategy, and the vulnerabilities that can upend economies overnight. The future is already moving on these waters-the question is whether we are ready to navigate it.
Blood in the Cloud
The most decisive shift in modern conflict is invisible. Battles now run on rented servers, predictive models, and global data pipes owned by private entities-turning code, contracts, and uptime into instruments of power. This is a clear-eyed, accessible investigation of cloud warfare and how it is quietly redefining who commands force, who is accountable, and what citizens must guard to preserve digital sovereignty.Grounded in history, policy, and systems thinking, it reveals how states increasingly lean on private military infrastructure to run logistics, intelligence, and targeting; how algorithmic command shapes decisions at speed and scale; and how everyday platforms double as surveillance infrastructure. Instead of hype or alarmism, it offers a rigorous map of incentives, dependencies, and risks-the first practical lens on the emerging cloud-military complex and the wider geopolitics of the cloud that now binds allies, adversaries, and civilians alike.Built for thoughtful readers-policy professionals, journalists, technologists, and engaged citizens-it delivers concrete clarity without jargon. Inside, you'll encounter: - How subscription models and service-level agreements make outsourced defense both irresistibly convenient and dangerously sticky; - Why jurisdiction, data location, and vendor lock-in complicate oversight, deterrence, and democratic control; - What new checks, disclosures, and procurement norms can restore balance between security and rights.By the end, you'll have a durable mental model for navigating technology and war today: how infrastructure decides outcomes, how incentives shape strategy, and which questions to ask whenever a system claims to make us safer. A cyberwar analysis book for real-world decision-makers, it replaces noise with understanding-so readers can see the levers of power hidden in plain sight and act with foresight, not fear.
Slow Poison
A leading public intellectual gives his authoritative and personal account of the tragic postcolonial fate of Uganda, his homeland. In 1972, when Mahmood Mamdani came home to Uganda, he found a country transformed by "an orgy of violence." Two years earlier, with support from the colonial powers of Great Britain and Israel, Idi Amin had forcefully cemented his rule. He soon expelled Uganda's Indian minority in hopes of fostering a nation for Black Ugandans. The plan backfired. Amin was followed by Yoweri Museveni, who has now ruled for nearly four decades. Whereas Amin tried to create a Black nation out of the majority, Museveni sought to fragment this majority into multiple ethnic minorities, re-creating a version of colonial indirect rule. Slow Poison is Mamdani's firsthand report on the tragic unraveling of his country's struggle for decolonialization. A witness to East Africa's endlessly intricate power plays, and one of the most insightful political philosophers of his generation, Mamdani casts a learned and wary eye on Amin, internationally depicted as a buffoon; the radical scholar Museveni; and the global heavyweights that exploited and manipulated Uganda before and after its independence. Each leader made violence central to his project, but Mamdani sees a signal difference between Amin, who retained popular support to the end, and Museveni, who has not. The Asian expulsion made Amin a monster in the eyes of the West. In contrast, Museveni was hailed as standard bearer of the "war on terror" in Africa and was protected from accountability for far greater crimes. In exchange for adopting the package of neoliberal reforms known as the Washington Consensus, he became Africa's poster child. Amin, who aimed to create a nation of Black millionaires, never became one himself. Meanwhile, Uganda's surrender to privatization has brought Museveni's family immense wealth, even as the country remains one of the world's poorest.
From the Classroom to Congress
"From the polluted streets of California's Inland Empire to the halls of Congress, Melissa May's journey is a testament to the power of community, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. In her gripping memoir, May chronicles her evolution from classroom teacher to political leader, igniting a movement that would forever change her community."In From the Classroom to Congress, Melissa May takes readers on an unforgettable journey of passion, struggle, and triumph. Born and raised in the environmental battleground of the Inland Empire, May's childhood was defined by pollution and injustice, but it was in these very struggles that her spirit of activism was born.From local grassroots organizing to founding LULAC de Ontario, May's fight for environmental justice is woven through every chapter. In this candid memoir, she reflects on the battles fought against powerful industries, the personal sacrifices made, and the victories that shaped not only her career but a movement that would echo across generations.Through personal anecdotes and powerful calls to action, May challenges readers to consider their role in social change. Whether you are a political enthusiast, an activist at heart, or someone who believes in the power of community, this book will inspire you to never stop fighting for what's right.This memoir is more than just a story-it's a blueprint for anyone who believes that one voice can change the world. Join Melissa May in this powerful call for action and discover the transformative power of resilience and activism.
GOD is ONE
GOD is ONE: The Extension of the Gaza Operation (2023) into the Iran War (2025)Several aspects of the Gaza war, described in three previous volumes by this author, have been slowly dragging toward their conclusion due to the insolubility of the 50 Israeli hostages that Hamas refuses to release.Both the U.S. and Israel considered the time had dawned to arrest forcibly the dangerous Iranian determination to develop nuclear and ballistic weapons, and jointly decided to interfere militarily to harm it in June 2025.But much more has yet to be done, either by force or by negotiation.(About the Author)Raphael Israeli has taught Islamic, Chinese, and Middle Eastern history at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. A graduate of Hebrew University in history and Arabic literature, he earned a Ph.D. in Chinese and Islamic history from the University of California, Berkeley. Now retired, he has been a Fellow of the Harry Truman Research Institute at Hebrew University and the Jerusalem Center since the1970s. He is the author of more than 110 books and 100 articles.
Shadow Exchanges Along the New Silk Roads
This volume offers a bottom-up view of the transborder informal exchanges across Asia and Eurasia, and analyses its clash and mesh with the state-orchestrated Belt and Road cooperation.
Against All Odds
As part of a wider democracy promotion effort, political parties in Georgia and Ukraine, as in most other post-communist states, have received assistance from a number of non-governmental but governmentfunded western organizations for most of the post-communist period. This assistance, however, has persistently failed to contribute to making parties in the two former Soviet republics substantially more stable, democratic, and representative. In searching for an answer to why the assistance has not been more effective, this thesis looks both at the nature of the assistance and the particularities of party politics in Georgia and Ukraine. The thesis argues that, as a consequence of domestic constraints on party development, political parties in Georgia and Ukraine were essentially unsuitable as recipients of party assistance and that, therefore, party assistance was poorly positioned to make an impact.
Bloodless Battles
Wars no longer begin with gunfire-they begin with a blockade, a cyberattack, or a single missing shipment of chips. In a world where nations are tied together by fragile supply lines, the real weapons of power are no longer tanks and missiles but supply chain warfare, energy as a weapon, and the deliberate use of scarcity to bend rivals into submission.This book reveals how weaponized interdependence has become the defining feature of modern conflict. From semiconductor geopolitics in Taiwan to gas pipelines in Europe, from food blockades in the Black Sea to cyberattacks on infrastructure, it uncovers how ordinary resources-fuel, food, chips-are now strategic chokepoints. The story is global, urgent, and deeply personal: the wars of tomorrow are already shaping the prices we pay, the devices we use, and the stability of the societies we live in.For readers of geopolitics, economics, and international affairs, this is a gripping and clarifying guide to the hidden front lines of 21st-century power. It is for business leaders navigating fragile supply chains, citizens questioning rising prices, and anyone trying to understand the headlines about sanctions, shortages, or the US-China tech war.By the final page, you will see conflict differently-not as distant battles, but as a pattern of control over movement, energy, and access. You'll gain a sharper framework for recognizing the logic behind sanctions, the vulnerabilities inside global trade, and the strategies nations use to fight economic statecraft without spilling blood. These blockade strategies in modern wars will define the century-and this book gives you the tools to understand them before they reshape your world.
Empire of Algorithms
The next world war won't be fought with tanks or missiles-it will be fought with algorithms. As artificial intelligence spreads into finance, defense, and governance, it is quietly reshaping the global balance of power. The nations that control code, data, and chips will decide the winners and losers of the 21st century, leaving others trapped in dependence.This book reveals how AI geopolitics has become the defining contest of our age, from the chip wars and compute power race between the U.S. and China to the rise of data colonialism and sovereignty struggles in smaller states. It shows how algorithms are already weaponized for disinformation, economic coercion, and surveillance-altering elections, shaping beliefs, and challenging what it means to govern.Drawing on history, international strategy, and cutting-edge technology debates, it offers a framework to understand why AI functions like a silent bomb: an arsenal that doesn't explode but manipulates markets, societies, and even identities. For policymakers, business leaders, and globally minded readers, it explains not just how technology works, but how it redistributes power.Inside, you'll discover: - Why algorithmic statecraft is replacing traditional diplomacy; - How generative AI policy and governance debates decide who leads and who follows; - What computational sovereignty frameworks reveal about the future of independence; - How disinformation and deepfakes in geopolitics will challenge democracies and empower authoritarian statesBy the final page, you'll have a new lens to read the headlines, anticipate global shifts, and understand the hidden mechanics of a future already unfolding. Clear, urgent, and provocative, this book equips you with the insight to see how power itself is being rewritten by artificial intelligence.
Empire of Algorithms
The next world war won't be fought with tanks or missiles-it will be fought with algorithms. As artificial intelligence spreads into finance, defense, and governance, it is quietly reshaping the global balance of power. The nations that control code, data, and chips will decide the winners and losers of the 21st century, leaving others trapped in dependence.This book reveals how AI geopolitics has become the defining contest of our age, from the chip wars and compute power race between the U.S. and China to the rise of data colonialism and sovereignty struggles in smaller states. It shows how algorithms are already weaponized for disinformation, economic coercion, and surveillance-altering elections, shaping beliefs, and challenging what it means to govern.Drawing on history, international strategy, and cutting-edge technology debates, it offers a framework to understand why AI functions like a silent bomb: an arsenal that doesn't explode but manipulates markets, societies, and even identities. For policymakers, business leaders, and globally minded readers, it explains not just how technology works, but how it redistributes power.Inside, you'll discover: - Why algorithmic statecraft is replacing traditional diplomacy; - How generative AI policy and governance debates decide who leads and who follows; - What computational sovereignty frameworks reveal about the future of independence; - How disinformation and deepfakes in geopolitics will challenge democracies and empower authoritarian statesBy the final page, you'll have a new lens to read the headlines, anticipate global shifts, and understand the hidden mechanics of a future already unfolding. Clear, urgent, and provocative, this book equips you with the insight to see how power itself is being rewritten by artificial intelligence.
Bloodless Battles
Wars no longer begin with gunfire-they begin with a blockade, a cyberattack, or a single missing shipment of chips. In a world where nations are tied together by fragile supply lines, the real weapons of power are no longer tanks and missiles but supply chain warfare, energy as a weapon, and the deliberate use of scarcity to bend rivals into submission.This book reveals how weaponized interdependence has become the defining feature of modern conflict. From semiconductor geopolitics in Taiwan to gas pipelines in Europe, from food blockades in the Black Sea to cyberattacks on infrastructure, it uncovers how ordinary resources-fuel, food, chips-are now strategic chokepoints. The story is global, urgent, and deeply personal: the wars of tomorrow are already shaping the prices we pay, the devices we use, and the stability of the societies we live in.For readers of geopolitics, economics, and international affairs, this is a gripping and clarifying guide to the hidden front lines of 21st-century power. It is for business leaders navigating fragile supply chains, citizens questioning rising prices, and anyone trying to understand the headlines about sanctions, shortages, or the US-China tech war.By the final page, you will see conflict differently-not as distant battles, but as a pattern of control over movement, energy, and access. You'll gain a sharper framework for recognizing the logic behind sanctions, the vulnerabilities inside global trade, and the strategies nations use to fight economic statecraft without spilling blood. These blockade strategies in modern wars will define the century-and this book gives you the tools to understand them before they reshape your world.
No Lost Generation
In ""No Lost Generation: Syrian Refugee Children's Social Integration, Ecology, and Resiliency,"" the lively streets of Paris serve as a backdrop for hope, resilience, and the quest for belonging. This poignant exploration examines the lives of Syrian refugee children as they navigate the complexities of displacement in a foreign land. In times of upheaval, creating an environment where individuals can establish new connections and form new identities is crucial. Focusing on social integration, the book emphasizes their struggles and triumphs in forging new identities amid adversity. Readers will encounter inspiring stories of creativity, community support, and environmental stewardship as these young individuals contribute to their new home. Through personal narratives, expert insights, and an in-depth examination of the ecology of urban life, this work highlights the power of resilience and the significance of nurturing the next generation. Join us on a journey that challenges perceptions and celebrates the strength of the human spirit.
The Voiceless in Between
The global immigration crisis has brought the challenges of refugee and migrant populations to the forefront of contemporary issues. This thesis explores the situation of refugees in France, contextualizing it within theoretical frameworks that examine identity, citizenship, and the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion in a sovereign state. By engaging with contemporary theories on the citizenship dichotomy-legality versus illegality-this work evaluates the perspectives of civil society, governmental entities, and NGOs on humanitarianism and the concept of "fearism." Focusing on refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers in the northern French camps of Sangatte and the surrounding "jungles," the study begins with an analysis of French immigration policies and the portrayal of the ""Other."" Utilizing theoretical perspectives and case studies from camp volunteers and researchers, this thesis scrutinizes the refugee crisis in France and how social movements are empowering refugees and detained migrants to challenge imposed labels and restrictive legal and physical boundaries. Finally, this research considers the potential for reconciling dichotomies, such as the identity of "victim" versus "agent," and explores how social movements are creating spaces for refugees to assert agency. By amplifying marginalized voices and questioning fixed identities, this study aims to contribute to a broader and more functional concept of citizenship.
The Myth of American Idealism
"For anyone wanting to find out more about the world we live in . . . there is one simple answer: read Noam Chomsky." --The New Statesman A sharp indictment of both American foreign policy and the national myths that support it, and an urgent warning of the threat that U.S. power poses to humanity's future The Myth of American Idealism offers a timely and comprehensive introduction to the incisive critiques of U.S. power that have made Noam Chomsky one of the most widely known public intellectuals of all time. Surveying the history of U.S. military and economic activity around the world, Chomsky and coauthor Nathan J. Robinson vividly trace the way the American pursuit of global domination has wrought havoc in country after country. Chomsky and Robinson offer penetrating accounts of Washington's relationship with the Global South, its role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan--all justified with noble stories about humanitarian missions and the benevolent intentions of American policymakers. The same myths that have led to repeated disastrous wars, they argue, are now imperiling humanity's future. Examining nuclear proliferation and climate change, they show how U.S. policies are continuing to exacerbate global threats. For well over half a century, Noam Chomsky has committed himself to exposing governing ideologies and criticizing his country's unchecked power. At once thorough and devastating, urgent and provocative, The Myth of American Idealism offers a highly readable entry to a lifetime of thought and activism.
Statecraft 3.0
What happens when diplomacy is no longer human?Statecraft 3.0: The Age of AI Diplomacy by Rui Duarte is a groundbreaking book on artificial intelligence that explores how real AI is transforming global politics, foreign policy, and international law. Blending insights from political science, history, and cutting-edge AI technology, this book offers a bold vision for the future of diplomacy.From the legacy of Westphalian sovereignty to the rise of autonomous decision-making, Duarte examines the evolution of statecraft and introduces a new paradigm: Quantum Diplomacy. In this emerging landscape, nation-states, global corporations, and AI systems must learn to govern together-negotiating treaties, resolving conflicts, and shaping the future of international relations.This book is for readers of: Artificial intelligence books that go beyond science fiction and into real-world impact.Political science books that examine how AI is changing leadership and power.Books on artificial intelligence and foreign policy that explore global risk and digital sovereignty.International law readers seeking to understand algorithmic governance and AI treaties.Political books, political history books, and politics books connecting the past to the future.Fans of Malcolm Shaw's International Law who want to explore its intersection with AI.Whether you're a policymaker, strategist, student, or citizen trying to make sense of the artificial intelligence best sellers shaping our headlines, Statecraft 3.0 offers both a warning and a roadmap.If you enjoy thought leaders like Ian Bremmer, Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, or Malcolm Shaw, this is a must-read political science book you'll return to again and again.Prepare for the most important conversation of our century: Who really governs-humans or machines?
The American Edge
To regain its capacity to effectively deter China and retain its unmatched global status, the United States must deepen its partnership with the nation's most innovative tech companies. In The American Edge, Seth G. Jones explains how the industrial bases of the world's great military powers have risen, fallen, and evolved relative to each other over the past century, from Imperial Germany and Japan during World War II, to the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War, to the recent rise of China. In doing so, Jones reveals how the US is on a trajectory toward failure-a failure to effectively deter major adversaries, and to fight and win a great power war if necessary. China is on a wartime footing. It is rapidly building its defense industrial base to deter and-if deterrence fails-to fight the United States. During periods of wartime, the US defense industrial base has always needed to maximize production capacity, minimize excessive regulations, and provide incentives to the private sector for innovation. Today, though, the US military industrial base is operating on a peacetime footing despite China's massive military buildup and Russia's total war in Ukraine. Set in its ways and trapped in outdated procurement systems, it lacks the capacity, responsiveness, flexibility, and surge capability to meet the military requirements to deter China. However, the US does have a tremendously innovative private sector, from companies like SpaceX to Microsoft and Anduril, and this private sector can be leveraged. If the US can regain its capacity to respond flexibly and deter China in the current struggle for global power, it will need to come through the partnership with and utilization of these private companies. Along with providing a deep history of the economic foundations of how America's ascent to military superpower, this book shows how these innovative firms are helping the US military regain its edge and thereby retain its status as the world's paramount military force.
Statecraft 3.0
What happens when diplomacy is no longer human?Statecraft 3.0: The Age of AI Diplomacy by Rui Duarte is a groundbreaking book on artificial intelligence that explores how real AI is transforming global politics, foreign policy, and international law. Blending insights from political science, history, and cutting-edge AI technology, this book offers a bold vision for the future of diplomacy.From the legacy of Westphalian sovereignty to the rise of autonomous decision-making, Duarte examines the evolution of statecraft and introduces a new paradigm: Quantum Diplomacy. In this emerging landscape, nation-states, global corporations, and AI systems must learn to govern together-negotiating treaties, resolving conflicts, and shaping the future of international relations.This book is for readers of: Artificial intelligence books that go beyond science fiction and into real-world impact.Political science books that examine how AI is changing leadership and power.Books on artificial intelligence and foreign policy that explore global risk and digital sovereignty.International law readers seeking to understand algorithmic governance and AI treaties.Political books, political history books, and politics books connecting the past to the future.Fans of Malcolm Shaw's International Law who want to explore its intersection with AI.Whether you're a policymaker, strategist, student, or citizen trying to make sense of the artificial intelligence best sellers shaping our headlines, Statecraft 3.0 offers both a warning and a roadmap.If you enjoy thought leaders like Ian Bremmer, Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, or Malcolm Shaw, this is a must-read political science book you'll return to again and again.Prepare for the most important conversation of our century: Who really governs-humans or machines?
The Burning Ground
They killed her father for speaking out For decades, the oil-rich Niger Delta--an important wetland and farming region--has seen its environment devastated by oil extraction that has brought little economic benefit to its people. After a nonviolent campaign for environmental and human rights, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight colleagues were executed by the military dictatorship in 1995. Their deaths sparked an armed insurgency marked by sabotage and oil theft in a bid for "resource control." Thirty years after Ken Saro-Wiwa's death, his daughter Noo traces the rise of this insurgency and how it became entangled with politics, further damaging the environment and upending social hierarchies. In The Burning Ground, she travels across the delta to examine its aftermath, speaking with former militants, highlighting the undervalued role of women, and meeting individuals working toward sustainable development. Along the way, her sharp, humane reporting brings to life a region where environmental damage, political conflict, human-rights pressures, and accelerating climate threats converge in ways the world cannot ignore.
The Maritime Security Dilemma In The Gulf
In an era where roughly one-fifth of global oil transits through a narrow 21-nautical-mile passage, the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the world's most critical maritime chokepoint. This strategic waterway, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, represents far more than a shipping lane-it embodies the complex intersection of energy security, regional sovereignty, and international power dynamics that defines modern geopolitics.The Maritime Security Dilemma in the Gulf offers a comprehensive examination of the delicate balance between protecting vital sea lanes and preserving regional autonomy. As Gulf Cooperation Council states navigate competing pressures from external military presence and internal sovereignty concerns, they face an unprecedented challenge: securing critical infrastructure while maintaining independent decision-making capabilities.This authoritative analysis examines how Iranian naval activities, asymmetric warfare tactics, and non-state actor interventions create a multifaceted security environment where traditional deterrence models are inadequate. The book delves into emerging threats-from cyberattacks on maritime systems to climate-induced vulnerabilities-that are reshaping security calculations across the region.Drawing on extensive research and real-world case studies, the authors present practical frameworks for crisis management, diplomatic engagement, and technological innovation that respect both collective security needs and national prerogatives. From satellite surveillance systems to confidence-building measures, the book charts viable pathways for sustainable maritime governance.Essential reading for policymakers, defence analysts, and international relations scholars, this volume provides the strategic insights needed to understand one of the world's most volatile yet economically vital regions. As global energy dependencies evolve and regional power dynamics shift, The Maritime Security Dilemma in the Gulf serves as an indispensable guide to navigating the complexities of 21st-century maritime security.
Blessed Are Those Who Hunger for Truth
Alexei Navalny was Putin's most formidable opponent: an anti-corruption activist, a politician, and ultimately, a martyr. But was he also something else? This book makes a startling claim: that Navalny, whether he intended to or not, walked a path strikingly similar to Christ's.While the official Russian Orthodox Church blessed weapons and preached submission to Caesar, an atheist in an Arctic punishment cell was memorizing the Sermon on the Mount and joking about being Santa Claus. While patriarchs wore gold, Navalny wore prison stripes, confronting a corrupt empire with truth as his only weapon.Blessed Are Those Who Hunger for Truth is not about deifying a politician. It is a devastating examination of what it means to follow Christ in the 21st century. It is a challenge to a comfortable Christianity that has forgotten the price of its convictions.The question isn't whether Navalny was a saint. The question is: If an atheist could carry his cross to the end, what excuse do believers have?
The Chinese and Their Future
Policy analysts and scholars in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States discuss the major issues arising in the aftermath of the explosive events in China in 1989. Contributors include Arthur Hummel, the former U.S. ambassador to the People's Republic of China, and Ding Mou-Shih, the representative of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs to the United States.
What Iranians Want
The first major book on the new Iranian revolution 'A document of real optimism.' Guardian A window into the new Iran in the making, demanded by its activists, artists and citizens The 2022-3 Women, Life, Freedom protests set Iran aflame. Today, the fire still burns, as Iranians all across the country down their tools and take to the streets to demand social and economic justice: the right to a normal life. In What Iranians Want, Arash Azizi shows us how Iranians nurtured the flame of resistance since the very inception of the Islamic Republic in 1979. From mass strikes in Kurdistan to Hijab burnings, for decades Iranians have put their lives on the line to demand a better future - an end to crushing poverty, political liberty and greater social equality. Ayatollah Khamenei's order is built on sand. They may crush protestors in blood today but tomorrow Iranians will rise up again and proclaim their freedom.
Lessons in Diplomacy
Is a diplomat's life really as glamorous as a royal visit, or as dramatic as a coup d'矇tat in Turkey? Leigh Turner is a former British ambassador who held posts in Ukraine, Turkey and Austria. In this witty globe-trotting adventure through one of the most intriguing careers a person can have, Leigh relates his interactions with royalty of both the aristocratic and celebrity kinds, and with brilliant and extraordinary people who bestowed valuable lessons. Offering astute reflections on Brexit, Russia's war with Ukraine and the chaos of modern politics, he sheds new light on the intricacies of modern statecraft, including what we all can learn from a good diplomat or ambassador. In this entertaining and accessible first-hand account, you'll discover how diplomats really work with spies, how immunity allows killers to escape justice, how Russia broke up the Soviet Union and then nursed its resentment at the consequences -- and how to throw, and be invited to, a great cocktail party.
For the Sun After Long Nights
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - A moving exploration of the 2022 women-led protests in Iran, as told through the interwoven stories of two Iranian journalists "Unlike anything I've read . . . A searing, courageous, and ultimately beautiful book filled with the spirit of the movement that it covers." --Ben Rhodes, author of The World as It Is: A Memoir of the Obama White House In September 2022, a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa J簾na Amini, died after being beaten by police officers who arrested her for not adhering to the Islamic Republic's dress code. Her death galvanized thousands of Iranians--mostly women--who took to the streets in one of the country's largest uprisings in decades: the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Despite the threat of imprisonment or death for her work as a journalist covering political unrest, state repression, and grassroots activism in Iran--which has led to multiple interrogation sessions and arrests--Fatemeh Jamalpour joined the throngs of people fighting to topple Iran's religious extremist regime. And across the globe, Nilo Tabrizy, who emigrated from Iran with her family as a child, covered the protests and state violence, knowing that spotlighting the women on the front lines and the systemic injustice of the Iranian government meant she would not be able to safely return to Iran in the future. Though they had met only once in person, Nilo and Fatemeh corresponded constantly, often through encrypted platforms to protect Fatemeh. As the protests continued to unfold, the sense of sisterhood they shared led them to embark on an effort to document the spirit and legacy of the movement, and the history, geopolitics, and influences that led to this point. At once deeply personal and assiduously reported, For the Sun After Long Nights offers two perspectives on what it means to cover the stories that are closest to one's heart--both in the forefront and from afar.
Putin's Bloody Legacy
Putin's Bloody Legacy: How One Man's Crimes Against Ukraine, Russia, and Humanity Shaped the 21st Century is a powerful indictment of Vladimir Putin and the regime he built. More than a biography, it is a record of corruption, assassinations, and war crimes that transformed Russia into a mafia state and destabilized the world.From his obscure beginnings in the KGB to his rise through the chaos of St. Petersburg politics, Putin learned how to turn secrecy, loyalty, and violence into tools of power. Once in Moscow, he consolidated control through fear and opportunism, silencing critics and rewarding allies. The book traces this transformation step by step: the suspicious 1999 apartment bombings that cleared his path to the presidency, the atrocities of the Chechen wars, and the national tragedies of the Kursk submarine, Dubrovka theater, and Beslan school massacre.It examines the political murders that defined Putin's rule, including the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, the assassination of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, the shooting of Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin, and the imprisonment and death of Alexei Navalny. It explores Russia's invasions of Georgia, the annexation of Crimea, the war in Donbas, and the downing of flight MH17. It documents war crimes in Syria, Africa, and Ukraine, culminating in the full-scale invasion of 2022 - with the massacres in Bucha and Mariupol, the bombing of civilians, and the deportation of children that led to the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Putin.This book is also about those who resisted him: journalists, lawyers, dissidents, and ordinary citizens who refused to be silenced. Their courage forms the moral counterweight to the cruelty of the regime.Clear, fact-based, and urgent, Putin's Bloody Legacy is a history of crimes that shaped the 21st century - and a warning about the cost of silence and appeasement.
A Bunker in Kyiv
A riveting account of courageous resistance from the bestselling author of Balcony Over JerusalemLonglisted for the 2025 Walkley Award On 24 February 2022, residents of Kyiv, Ukraine, woke to the sound of explosions and gunfire as Russian forces attempted to seize Hostomel Airport. It marked the beginning of the first land war in Europe since World War II. Under the leadership of the charismatic Volodymyr Zelensky, a militarized resistance and a civilian army of volunteers combined to defy Vladimir Putin. By day, visitors to Kyiv might mistake it for any other charming European city. But when night falls, sirens wail and citizens sleep in bathrooms and bunkers to escape the persistent dangers of incoming missiles. This war is fought daily on both the front lines and the home front. Resourceful civilians - from old punk rockers and bikers to university professors and corporate brand managers - provide every bit of help they can, outwitting and outmanoeuvring the Russian army with drones, cyber tech, and sheer ingenuity. As Ukraine's long-term future captures the focus of global leaders in Russia, Europe and the US, veteran journalist and ABC Global Affairs Editor John Lyons takes readers into the heart of a nation under siege. He interviews Ukrainians who stand tall in the face of an increasingly brutal conflict and an uncertain future. These are the stories of ordinary civilians making extraordinary contributions, determined to fight back in every way possible to ensure the survival of themselves, their families, and the soul of their nation.
Project Maven
In 2017, a small crew gathered in a windowless Pentagon room to put AI at the heart of how America makes war. Led by Drew Cukor, an unyielding Marine Corps colonel driven by the deaths of US troops and the prospect of war with an AI-equipped China, the Project Maven team raced to send AI into combat, igniting controversy and forever changing the US military.Summoning the mayhem of a tech startup, the Maven team wrestled Pentagon bureaucrats and each other. They enlisted an initially reluctant Silicon Valley, supercharged the growth of Palantir, and sent algorithms made by Amazon, Microsoft, and others into hot wars. Maven fielded technology to identify targets at speed and scale, developed AI-infused command systems, and learned where AI fails.The prospect of machines making independent decisions about life and death alarmed members of the military across all ranks and the project sparked a revolt among thousands of tech workers at Google. Yet today, Maven's AI-enabled systems operate in every branch of the US military, and its lessons are folded into developing autonomous technology set to be on the front lines of future war.Project Maven and its legacy sit at the intersection of colliding trends: America's insecurity about declining global power, the technological revolution driving AI into every aspect of society, the dominance of Big Tech, all-encompassing surveillance, and the ambitions of China's growing military. As the second Trump administration pours money into military AI and autonomy while the UN Secretary-General clamors for a ban on killer robots, this book investigates whether AI will improve accuracy and save lives or if a fundamentally unreliable black-box technology will unleash mistakes and atrocities at scale.Drawing on more than 200 interviews with insiders and opponents, this compelling narrative tells the definitive story of how AI warfare, once the stuff of apocalyptic science fiction, has become a reality.
The New Cold War
A silent war is fracturing our world-and it's not being fought with bombs or bullets, but with algorithms, trade routes, propaganda, and chips. As tensions escalate between the United States and China, a new kind of cold war is reshaping everything: from the flow of goods and data to the very beliefs that hold nations-and people-together.This is not just a geopolitical rivalry. It's a deep psychological and cultural schism that's forcing countries, corporations, and individuals to choose sides in a divided reality. In this urgent and eye-opening work, you'll discover how global power is being redefined through US-China cold war tactics, ideological warfare, digital cold war dynamics, and the slow unravelling of shared truth.Explore the hidden architecture of conflict: - How decoupling the global economy is transforming supply chains into battlegrounds- Why South China Sea conflict analysis reveals more about the future than the past- How Huawei tech ban explained isn't just about tech-it's about sovereignty and narrative- What the TikTok ban China USA debate exposes about algorithmic identity wars- Why the future of AI in geopolitics may decide who gets to define reality itselfFor policymakers, business leaders, students of international affairs, and globally curious citizens, this book offers a rare third lens-one that goes beyond fear, nationalism, or bias to reveal the deeper forces shaping our shared future.Whether you're seeking clarity on the new world order 2025, or simply trying to understand the emotional and strategic stakes of geopolitical fragmentation, this is the definitive guide to the battle not just between nations-but between worldviews.
The Silent Trigger
What if the next war isn't started by a general-but by an algorithm?In a world where decisions are made at machine speed, the future of war is being coded in silence. This groundbreaking book takes you inside the labs, command centers, and classified programs where autonomous weapons AI, quantum warfare tech, and cyber-physical systems are quietly rewriting what it means to fight, to defend, and to decide who lives or dies.This is not just a book about smart weapons-it's an unflinching look at how nations are engineering the capacity to wage war without human hesitation, human morality, or even human presence. As hypersonic missile strategy erases response time and autonomous kill decision systems learn to anticipate intent, we enter a new era where ethics, accountability, and power itself must be redefined.Perfect for readers of political thrillers, military futurism, and real-world cyberwarfare and geopolitics, this book is essential for defense analysts, technologists, policymakers, and anyone asking what it means to survive-let alone lead-in the age of digital deterrence.Inside, you'll discover: - How AI is already being used in modern warfare to predict and pre-empt threats before they happen- The chilling truth behind autonomous weapons AI and their role in recent drone strikes- Why ethical AI in defense is not just a technical issue, but a philosophical and strategic one- How future military technology is quietly shifting the balance of global powerThis book doesn't just inform-it compels. You'll walk away not just with knowledge, but with a framework to think more clearly, act more wisely, and question more deeply the systems shaping tomorrow.The trigger has already been pulled. The question is-who programmed it?
The New Cold War
A silent war is fracturing our world-and it's not being fought with bombs or bullets, but with algorithms, trade routes, propaganda, and chips. As tensions escalate between the United States and China, a new kind of cold war is reshaping everything: from the flow of goods and data to the very beliefs that hold nations-and people-together.This is not just a geopolitical rivalry. It's a deep psychological and cultural schism that's forcing countries, corporations, and individuals to choose sides in a divided reality. In this urgent and eye-opening work, you'll discover how global power is being redefined through US-China cold war tactics, ideological warfare, digital cold war dynamics, and the slow unravelling of shared truth.Explore the hidden architecture of conflict: - How decoupling the global economy is transforming supply chains into battlegrounds- Why South China Sea conflict analysis reveals more about the future than the past- How Huawei tech ban explained isn't just about tech-it's about sovereignty and narrative- What the TikTok ban China USA debate exposes about algorithmic identity wars- Why the future of AI in geopolitics may decide who gets to define reality itselfFor policymakers, business leaders, students of international affairs, and globally curious citizens, this book offers a rare third lens-one that goes beyond fear, nationalism, or bias to reveal the deeper forces shaping our shared future.Whether you're seeking clarity on the new world order 2025, or simply trying to understand the emotional and strategic stakes of geopolitical fragmentation, this is the definitive guide to the battle not just between nations-but between worldviews.
FDR - Djt
Two Presidents, Two Eras, One NationThis book explores the parallel yet contrasting lives of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Donald J. Trump-two titanic figures who led America through defining moments in its history. Across 33 chapters, the narrative unfolds from their privileged births to their historic presidencies, examining how each shaped-and was shaped by-their times.Franklin D. Roosevelt rose through traditional public service, steering the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. His New Deal redefined government's role in economic life, while his Fireside Chats revolutionized presidential communication. Despite physical paralysis from polio, FDR's leadership inspired national resilience, global alliances, and lasting reforms that shaped modern liberal governance.Donald J. Trump, a media-savvy real estate magnate, disrupted political norms by ascending to the presidency without prior public office. His America First policies reoriented trade, immigration, energy, and judicial appointments, while his use of social media transformed political messaging. Marked by scandal, populism, and an unprecedented second, nonconsecutive term, Trump's presidency reflects a polarized, digital-age America driven by identity politics and cultural battles.Each chapter compares their backgrounds, families, educations, marriages, policies, crises, communication styles, and legacies. While FDR represents institutional transformation through steadiness and compassion, Trump embodies disruption through branding, resilience, and defiance.Together, their stories reflect two eras of American upheaval-one rooted in collective recovery, the other in individual revival. By studying these men side by side, we gain deep insight into the presidency itself-and the evolving soul of a nation still wrestling with its ideals, institutions, and identity.
