Other books that might interest you

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  Change They Can't Believe In -...

  Christopher S. Parker, Matt A....

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  “Offers valuable empirical data on the Tea Party, and its focus on supporters’ antagonism toward Obama is critical to understanding the movement.” —Michael O’Donnell, The New Republic 
   
  Winner of the Best Book Award, Race, Ethnicity, and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 
   
  Are Tea Party supporters merely a group of conservative citizens concerned about government spending? Or are they racists who refuse to accept Barack Obama as their president because he’s not white? Change They Can’t Believe In offers an alternative argument—that the Tea Party is driven by the reemergence of a reactionary movement in American politics that is fueled by a fear that America has changed for the worse. Providing a range of original evidence and rich portraits of party sympathizers as well as activists, Christopher Parker and Matt Barreto show that the perception that America is in danger directly informs how Tea Party supporters think and act. 
   
  In a new afterword, Parker and Barreto reflect on the Tea Party’s recent initiatives, including the 2013 government shutdown, and evaluate their prospects for the 2016 election. 
   
  “A scathing analysis of the Tea Party movement, linking it in spirit to the Ku Klux Klan and the John Birch Society. . . . Based on research and interviews, they suggest racism, desire for social dominance . . . drives the Tea Party.” —Publishers Weekly

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  Exurbia Now - The Battleground...

  David Masciotra

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  The suburbs have become too liberal and diverse for many white American conservatives, so "exurbia"—areas outside the cities and their suburbs—are becoming the staging ground for the radical right extremist insurgency . . . 
   
   
   
  Beyond a fanatical devotion to former president Donald Trump, one of the curious things that united the rank and file of the January 6 insurrectionist mob was that many of them were residents of one of America's fastest growing residential areas: Exurbia. In this brilliant work of political and cultural inquiry, veteran political journalist David Masciotra provides a definitive account of what exurbia is, how it came to be, and how it's transforming American life. Zooming in outside the greater metropolitan area of Chicago—where Masciotra grew up—he shows how exurbia has become a safe space to fly the MAGA flag and romanticize the mores of the pre-civil rights, pre-feminist, pre-gay rights 1950s. 
   
   
   
  But, as Masciotra also shows, reactionary white flight is not the whole story of small-town America. The story often lost is the power and persistence of small-town liberals—people who believe in equality, celebrate diversity, and enroll in movements for justice. Exurbia, as it turns out, is ground zero for the fight over a democracy mightily beleaguered, yet still full of promise, and still worth fighting for.

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  The Picnic - A Dream of Freedom...

  Matthew Longo

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  In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists organized a picnic on the border of Hungary and Austria. But this was not an ordinary picnic—it was located on the dangerous militarized frontier known as the Iron Curtain. Tacit permission from the highest state authorities could be revoked at any moment. On wisps of rumor, thousands of East German "vacationers" packed Hungarian campgrounds, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents. The Pan-European Picnic set the stage for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: hundreds crossed from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West. 
   
   
   
  Drawing on dozens of original interviews, Matthew Longo tells a gripping and revelatory tale of the unraveling of the Iron Curtain and the birth of a new world order. Just a few months after the Picnic, the Berlin Wall fell, and the freedom for which the activists and refugees had risked imprisonment was suddenly available to everyone. But were they really free? And why, three decades since the Iron Curtain was torn down, have so many sought once again to build walls? 
   
   
   
  Cinematically told, The Picnic recovers a time when it seemed possible for the world to change. With insight and panache, Longo explores the opportunities taken—and the opportunities we failed to take—in that pivotal moment.

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  Blowing up Ukraine - The Return...

  Yuri Felshtinsky, Michael Stanchev

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  Presciently researched before the invasion of Ukraine, Blowing up Ukraine is the first comprehensive investigation into the lethal methods Russia has used since 1999 to take over Ukraine – culminating in full-blown unprovoked war in 2022 and mounting atrocities. In this chilling, riveting and alarming narrative the authors cite ample evidence, draw historical analogies, and marshal sources that are new, little known, or anonymous by necessity.Over twenty years, Vladimir Putin skilfully manipulated Ukraine's self-serving politicians and oligarchs, only to be thwarted time and again by peaceful revolutions of ordinary Ukrainians – the Maidan – against government corruption and being pushed into Russia's arms. As Putin became obsessed with conquering Ukraine, Blowing up Ukraine shows how the Kremlin has become a threat to global stability and Ukraine is almost certain to be the first battleground of World War III if the West is not careful to take a stance

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  The Tech Coup - How to Save...

  Marietje Schaake

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  Under the cover of "innovation," technology companies have successfully resisted regulation and have even begun to seize power from governments themselves. Facial recognition firms track citizens for police surveillance. Cryptocurrency has wiped out the savings of millions and threatens the stability of the global financial system. Spyware companies sell intelligence tools to anyone who can afford them. This new reality—where unregulated technology has become a forceful instrument for autocrats worldwide—is terrible news for democracies and citizens. 
   
   
   
  In The Tech Coup, Marietje Schaake explains how technology companies crept into nearly every corner of our lives and our governments. She takes us beyond the headlines to high-stakes meetings with human rights defenders, business leaders, computer scientists, and politicians to show how technologies have gone from being heralded as utopian to undermining the pillars of our democracies. To reverse this existential power imbalance, Schaake outlines solutions to empower elected officials and citizens alike. Democratic leaders can—and must—resist the influence of corporate lobbying and reinvent themselves as dynamic, flexible guardians of our digital world. Schaake offers a frightening look at our modern tech-obsessed world—and a clear-eyed view of how democracies can build a better future before it is too late.

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  Unite or Divide - Navigating the...

  Kempton Olney

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  Unite or Divide: Navigating the Crossroads of Our Society is a timely guide exploring the path from division to unity in our fractured world. This book offers insightful analysis and transformative solutions to societal fractures, blending historical context with contemporary examples and forward-thinking strategies. It traces the roots of division through history, addressing challenges like political polarization, economic inequality, and identity politics. 
   
  Rather than just diagnosing issues, it presents a vision for navigating out of division. Each chapter examines topics like technology's role in social connections, the dangers of misinformation, and the need for empathy, empowering readers with strategies to foster social cohesion—from grassroots efforts to policy-making. 
   
  The book features compelling case studies, personal transformation stories, and global perspectives, urging readers to reflect on shared humanity and community-based peacemaking. With a passionate call to action, "Unite or Divide" inspires readers with stories of change and guides them with practical steps to bridge divides. It's for anyone who believes in a better world and is ready to make it a reality. Join the movement towards unity and experience the power of transformation. Are you ready to journey towards a united society?

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