Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  Reducing Uncertainty -...

  Thomas Fingar

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  An look at what Intelligence Community analysts do and how, and how they are affected by the political context that shapes, uses and abuses their outputs. 
   
  The US government spends billions of dollars every year to reduce uncertainty: to monitor and forecast everything from the weather to the spread of disease. In other words, we spend a lot of money to anticipate problems, identify opportunities, and avoid mistakes. A substantial portion of what we spend—over $50 billion a year—goes to the US Intelligence Community. 
   
  Reducing Uncertainty describes what Intelligence Community analysts do, how they do it, and how they are affected by the political context that shapes, uses, and sometimes abuses their output. In particular, it looks at why IC analysts pay more attention to threats than to opportunities, and why they appear to focus more on warning about the possibility of “bad things” happening than on providing the input necessary for increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes. 
   
  The book is intended to increase public understanding of what IC analysts do, to elicit more relevant and constructive suggestions for improvement from outside the Intelligence Community, to stimulate innovation and collaboration among analysts at all grade levels in all agencies, and to provide a core resource for students of intelligence. The most valuable aspect of this book is the in-depth discussion of National Intelligence Estimates (NIE)—what they are, what it means to say that they represent the “most authoritative judgments of the Intelligence Community,” why and how they are important, and why they have such high political salience and symbolic importance. The final chapter lays out, from an insider’s perspective, the story of the flawed Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) NIE and its impact on the subsequent Iran nuclear NIE—paying particular attention to the heightened political scrutiny the latter received in Congress following the Iraq NIE debacle. 
   
  Praise for Reducing Uncertainty 
   
  “This is a well-documented, well-written piece by a former high-ranking member of the intelligence community . . . . Recommended.” —CHOICE 
   
  “Fingar provides a clear and useful tour of how intelligence analysis is produced.” —Political Science Quarterly 
   
  “Tom Fingar provides a frank, detailed examination of the challenges to and successes of the U.S. Intelligence Community. In doing so, he reveals insights and strategies that directly address our national security needs. High-stakes examples described by Fingar provide an insider-account only he can provide. The result is riveting and informative.” —William J. Perry, Secretary of Defense for the United States, 1994 to 1997

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  How States Think - The...

  John J. Mearsheimer, Sebastian...

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  A groundbreaking examination of a central question in international relations: Do states act rationally? 
   
  To understand world politics, you need to understand how states think. Are states rational? Much of international relations theory assumes that they are. But many scholars believe that political leaders rarely act rationally. The issue is crucial for both the study and practice of international politics, for only if states are rational can scholars and policymakers understand and predict their behavior. 
   
  John J. Mearsheimer and Sebastian Rosato argue that rational decisions in international politics rest on credible theories about how the world works and emerge from deliberative decision‑making processes. Using these criteria, they conclude that most states are rational most of the time, even if they are not always successful. Mearsheimer and Rosato make the case for their position, examining whether past and present world leaders, including George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin, have acted rationally in the context of momentous historical events, including both world wars, the Cold War, and the post–Cold War era.  
   
  By examining this fundamental concept in a novel and comprehensive manner, Mearsheimer and Rosato show how leaders think, and how to make policy for dealing with other states.

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  Ronald Reagan - Understanding...

  Steven F. Hayward

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  Dr. Steven F. Hayward is the author of the celebrated two-part biography The Age of Reagan, which Reagan adviser William Niskanen called “the best history of the Reagan presidency.” He is an accomplished scholar and public intellectual who has taught and held fellowships at Georgetown University, UC Berkeley, and the American Enterprise Institute. Now you can absorb Hayward’s fascinating insights on Reagan’s life and legacy through this compelling 12-lecture audio course. Dr. Hayward combines an engaging teaching style with his deep knowledge of Reagan’s life. The result is a fascinating portrait of a poor boy from Illinois who became a Hollywood movie star, eloquent speaker, and one of the greatest presidents of the United States. Traveling with Dr. Hayward from Reagan’s childhood through his involvement in the end of the Cold War as US president, you’ll gain an exhaustive understanding of Reagan as a one-of-a-kind historical figure. Reagan has taken his place alongside Franklin Roosevelt as one of the most consequential presidents of the twentieth century, and as the dominant influence in the modern Republican Party. Dr. Hayward’s passionate lectures reveal the breadth of Reagan’s accomplishments and influence, including his landmark meetings with Mikhail Gorbachev, his distinctive conservative ideology, and his commitment to protecting the rights of the American people. Enjoy this inspiring course in your home or car today.This course is part of the Learn25 Collection.

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  John Locke - Thoughts on...

  Ferdinand Jives

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  The Libertarian who spoke up.  
  Although considered as a pure politician and idealist by some, John Locke’s philosophical views on life have inspired many to take a step back and reassess the nature of governments, property, and human rights. He was an advocate of freedom and liberty. His influence cannot be underestimated when looking at the philosophical debates that have been held since his time, let alone during his lifetime.  
  Therefore, to give the deserved credit to this impressive thinker, you can hear about topics such as:The “Two Treaties of Government” about which John Locke wrote.John Locke’s background and the origin of his name.His views on individualism and liberalism.A fun comparison between Justin Bieber, Steve Jobs, and John Locke.Descartes’ criticism on John Locke and the rational debate between their views.Critical thinking, knowledge, and imagination. 
  Get a new perspective by studying John Locke’s ideas, concepts, and his criticism on society and governments.

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  Communist Manifesto The - Karl Marx

  Karl Marx

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  The Communist Manifesto (German: Kommunistisches Manifest), originally the Manifesto of the Communist Party (German: Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei), is a political pamphlet written by German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Commissioned by the Communist League and originally published in London in 1848, the Manifesto remains one of the world's most influential political documents. It presents an analytical approach to class struggle and criticizes capitalism and the capitalist mode of production, without attempting to predict communism's potential future forms. 
  The Communist Manifesto summarises Marx and Engels' theories concerning the nature of society and politics, namely that, in their own words, "[t]he history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles". It also briefly features their ideas for how the capitalist society of the time would eventually be replaced by socialism. In the last paragraph of the Manifesto, the authors call for a "forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions", which served as a call for communist revolutions around the world. 
  In 2013, The Communist Manifesto was registered to UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme along with Marx's Capital.

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  Symbols of Freedom - Slavery and...

  Matthew J. Clavin

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  In the early United States, anthems, flags, holidays, monuments, and memorials were powerful symbols of an American identity that helped unify a divided people. A language of freedom played a similar role in shaping the new nation. Resonating across the country, they encouraged the creation of a republic where the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" was universal.For enslaved people and their allies, the language and symbols that served as national touchstones made a mockery of freedom. Yet, as author Matthew J. Clavin reveals, it was these powerful expressions of American nationalism that inspired forceful and even violent resistance to slavery.Symbols of Freedom is the surprising story of how enslaved people and their allies drew inspiration from the language and symbols of American freedom. Mindful and proud that theirs was a nation born in blood, these disparate patriots fought to fulfill the republic's promise by waging war against slavery.In a time when the US flag, the Fourth of July, and historical sites have never been more contested, this book reminds us that symbols are living artifacts whose power is derived from the meaning with which we imbue them.

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