Other books that might interest you

• 

  How the West Stole Democracy...

  Elizabeth F. Thompson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  “This expertly researched account brings to life a meaningful but underexplored chapter in world history.” —Publishers Weekly 
   
  When Europe’s Great War engulfed the Ottoman Empire, Arab nationalists rose in revolt against the Turks. The British supported the Arabs’ fight for an independent state and sent an intelligence officer, T.E. Lawrence, to join Prince Faisal, leader of the Arab army and a descendant of the Prophet. In October 1918, Faisal, Lawrence, and the Arabs victoriously entered Damascus, where they declared a constitutional government in an independent Greater Syria. 
   
  At the Paris Peace Conference, Faisal won the support of Woodrow Wilson, who sent an American commission to Syria to survey the political aspirations of its people. However, other Entente leaders at Paris—and later San Remo—schemed against the Arab democracy, which they saw as a threat to their colonial rule. On March 8, 1920, the Syrian-Arab Congress declared independence and crowned Faisal king of a “representative monarchy.” Rashid Rida, a leading Islamic thinker of the day, led the constituent assembly to establish equality for all citizens, including non-Muslims, under a full bill of rights. 
   
  But France and Britain refused to recognize the Damascus government, instead imposing a system of mandates on the Arab provinces of the defeated Ottoman Empire, on the pretext that Arabs weren’t yet ready for self-government. Under such a mandate, the French invaded Syria in April, crushing the Arab government and sending Faisal and Congress leaders into exile. The fragile coalition of secular modernizers and Islamic reformers that might have established democracy in the Arab world was destroyed, with profound consequences that reverberate still. 
   
  Using many previously untapped primary sources, including contemporary newspaper accounts and letters, minutes from the Syrian-Arab Congress, and diary and journal entries from participants, How The West Stole Democracy From The Arabs is a groundbreaking account of this extraordinary, brief moment of unity and hope—and of its destruction. 
   
  “Important and fascinating.” —Amaney A. Jamal, Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics, Princeton University

  Show book

• 

  The Decline and Fall of the...

  Bruce Ackerman

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  “Audacious . . . offers a fierce critique of democracy’s most dangerous adversary: the abuse of democratic power by democratically elected chief executives.” (Benjamin R. Barber, New York Times bestselling author of Jihad vs. McWorld ) 
   
  Bruce Ackerman shows how the institutional dynamics of the last half-century have transformed the American presidency into a potential platform for political extremism and lawlessness. Watergate, Iran-Contra, and the War on Terror are only symptoms of deeper pathologies. ­Ackerman points to a series of developments that have previously been treated independently of one another?from the rise of presidential primaries, to the role of pollsters and media gurus, to the centralization of power in White House czars, to the politicization of the military, to the manipulation of constitutional doctrine to justify presidential power-grabs. He shows how these different transformations can interact to generate profound constitutional crises in the twenty-first century?and then proposes a series of reforms that will minimize, if not eliminate, the risks going forward. 
   
   “The questions [Ackerman] raises regarding the threat of the American Executive to the republic are daunting. This fascinating book does an admirable job of laying them out.” —The Rumpus 
   
  “Ackerman worries that the office of the presidency will continue to grow in political influence in the coming years, opening possibilities for abuse of power if not outright despotism.” —Boston Globe 
   
  “A serious attention-getter.” —Joyce Appleby, author of The Relentless Revolution 
   
  “Those who care about the future of our nation should pay careful heed to Ackerman’s warning, as well as to his prescriptions for avoiding a constitutional disaster.” —Geoffrey R. Stone, author of Perilous Times

  Show book

• 

  Trump Aftershock - The...

  Stephen E Strang

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The earthquake the nation never saw coming.​ The election of Donald J. Trump sent shockwaves around the world. Shock troops were deployed along with the predictable rent-a-mob who stormed the streets of our nation's cities. Within hours a movement was born. The Trump agenda, promoted daily to millions of voters and adoring fans, was to "Make America Great Again." It was an agenda focused on strengthening the economy, restoring the federal courts, addressing the overwhelming surge of illegal immigration, rebuilding the military, and uplifting America's standing in the world. For the opposition, the objective was to impeach Donald Trump.Stephen E. Strang will explore the nature of this dramatic confrontation, covering various topics, including:The reactions of conservative and Christian voters to the Trump agendaInternational reactions to the electionThe economy, a look at the unprecedented market movementsFake News, the death of journalism, and the media's war on the presidentOrganizations such as Antifa and Black Lives MatterGeorge Soros: villain number oneIn Trump Aftershock Strang explores and analyzes Trump's effect on American culture from a Christian perspective, drawing upon interviews with many of the key players and offering insightful commentary on what the long-term prospects of the ongoing war of worldviews may portend.

  Show book

• 

  Alternative Future An

  Hazel Henderson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In this radical, visionary look at our possibilities for a sustainable future, Hazel Henderson discusses the “globalization” of human affairs, and proposes new ways of evaluating and improving a city or nation’s quality of life.  We need an alternative, she explains, to such indicators as the GNP, which values war weapons but not environmental or human resources, an alternative to violence as a solution to political problems, and “a new game where the most ethical companies and the most socially responsible people and governments get a chance to win.”

  Show book

• 

  Extremism and Violent Extremism...

  Valery Perry

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  This volume explores the issues of extremism and violent extremism in Serbia through research from a multitude of different interdisciplinary perspectives. The topic of violent extremism and radicalization leading to terror (VERLT) has grown as a field of policy and donor aid support, globally and in the western Balkans. This new focus has been manifest through both increased counter-terrorism support as well as efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism (P-CVE)—activities which are often peacebuilding as well as democratization initiatives. The main manifestation of extremism of interest to foreign donors (and often domestic authorities) is ISIS-inspired Salafi jihadism. However, in many of the countries in the region, and in the case of Serbia, there are other forms of extremism—namely far-right nationalism, violent hooliganism, and neo-Nazi movements—that are considered to be more of a threat, particularly as they are often viewed as examples of ‘normalized’ political expression. In addition, these extremisms can magnify one another through a process of reciprocal radicalization and interconnected spirals of exclusion, marginalization, grievance, and perceived victimhood. 
  
  This volume explores the issue as evident on the ground in Serbia in 2017 and 2018, using fresh and original research and perspectives that demonstrate that Serbia is at risk of many types of extremism, which are interconnected and can best be prevented by achieving the liberal, democratic, rights-based reforms that have remained elusive for more than two decades.

  Show book

• 

  Dear Emmett Till - An Excerpt...

  Michael Eric Dyson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A letter to Emmett Till, an excerpt from Dyson's longer work, Long Time ComingHere is a passionate call to America to finally reckon with race and start the journey to redemption. As Dyson notes: "Rarely has the tragic fact of Black death been as urgently in need of interpretation and engagement as in this moment."

  Show book