Casa editrice: Aroha
Common Sense by Thomas Paine A revolutionary pamphlet advocating for American independence from British rule. Paine uses plain language to argue for self-governance, criticize monarchy, and inspire colonial unity. His persuasive rhetoric played a key role in mobilizing public opinion during the American Revolution.
The Cultural Revolution, which took place in China from 1966 to 1976, was one of the most tumultuous and transformative periods in the country’s history. Initiated by Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China, the movement sought to preserve Chinese communism by removing capitalist, traditional, and cultural elements from Chinese society. At its core, the Cultural Revolution aimed to enforce Maoist ideology, reaffirm his leadership, and transform the cultural, social, and political fabric of China. It was a radical attempt to reshape Chinese society by addressing perceived corruption and ideological impurity within the Communist Party and broader society. Mao’s motivations for launching the Cultural Revolution were multifaceted. After the failure of the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962), which had resulted in widespread famine and economic chaos, Mao’s position within the Communist Party had been weakened. The Cultural Revolution provided Mao with an opportunity to reassert his control over the party and eliminate rivals, many of whom were seen as too moderate or resistant to his vision of a truly communist society. It also reflected Mao’s concern that China was veering away from the revolutionary ideals that had initially driven the Communist Party. The movement was largely propelled by the Red Guards, a youth-based movement that encouraged the younger generation to challenge authority and remove perceived counter-revolutionary influences. Under the banner of Maoism, the Red Guards sought to destroy the "Four Olds"—old customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideas. This led to widespread destruction of cultural heritage, including temples, books, and artworks. Intellectuals, teachers, and perceived enemies of the revolution were subjected to violent persecution, public humiliation, and forced labor, with many being sent to the countryside for "re-education."Mostra libro
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.Mostra libro
A data-rich examination of the US Supreme Court’s unprecedented detachment from the democratic processes that buttress its legitimacy. Today’s Supreme Court is unlike any other in American history. This is not just because of its jurisprudence but also because the current Court has a tenuous relationship with the democratic processes that help establish its authority. Historically, this “democracy gap” was not nearly as severe as it is today. Simply put, past Supreme Courts were constructed in a fashion far more in line with the promise of democracy—that the people decide and the majority rules. Drawing on historical and contemporary data alongside a deep knowledge of court battles during presidencies ranging from FDR to Donald Trump, Kevin J. McMahon charts the developments that brought us here. McMahon offers insight into the altered politics of nominating and confirming justices, the shifting pool of Supreme Court hopefuls, and the increased salience of the Court in elections. A Supreme Court Unlike Any Other is an eye-opening account of today’s Court within the context of US history and the broader structure of contemporary politics.Mostra libro
Are we doomed to endless conflict, or is there a revolutionary path to lasting peace in the Middle East? For decades, Western peace plans have failed, leaving the region caught in a cycle of bloodshed with consequences for the entire world. But what if the true solution was never about separation, but about rediscovering a shared heritage? Forged in the fire of the regional war that began on October 7, 2023, a new movement has emerged from unprecedented discussions among leaders representing the region's diverse peoples and faiths. Out of these discussions, a new school of thought was born: Political Abrahamism. The Abrahamic Revolution by Tom Wegner is the foundational manifesto of this movement. This dense and powerful book provides a practical framework to dismantle the ideologies of hate and build a future based on mutual respect and shared security. Are we doomed to endless conflict, or is there a revolutionary path to lasting peace in the Middle East? For decades, Western peace plans have failed, leaving the region caught in a cycle of bloodshed with consequences for the entire world. But what if the true solution was never about separation, but about rediscovering a shared heritage? Forged in the fire of the regional war that began on October 7, 2023, a new movement has emerged from unprecedented discussions among leaders representing the region's diverse peoples and faiths. Out of these discussions, a new school of thought was born: Political Abrahamism. The Abrahamic Revolution by Tom Wegner is the foundational manifesto of this movement. This dense and powerful book provides a practical framework to dismantle the ideologies of hate and build a future based on mutual respect and shared security.Mostra libro
An insider's look into the largely anonymous volunteers in local party organizations who make decisions in elections with profound implications for American democracy. Although scholars have long recognized that local American parties play an important role in elections, surprisingly little is known about the individuals who lead these typically small, volunteer-based organizations. As David Doherty, Conor M. Dowling, and Michael G. Miller show in Small Power, local party leaders influence the electoral process in myriad ways: They recruit and support candidates, interface with state-wide and federal campaigns, and get out the vote in their communities. Drawing from a survey of over 850 Democratic and Republican local party chairs, a nationally representative sample of voters, and dozens of in-depth interviews, the authors describe how parties are organized, who party chairs are, and how they serve the party. Leveraging novel experiments that illuminate how chairs make choices about which individuals to recruit as candidates—as well as whether those choices reflect voters' preferences—Small Power sheds new light on how seemingly mundane local decisions can shape party goals, influence candidate pipelines, and affect who ends up winning elections.Mostra libro
Love Death + Explosives: Thomas Pynchon’s Polipsychology is an essay that addresses the postmodern angle in the reclusive titular author’s writing, challenging readers to decontextualize the interpretive lens for the literal.Mostra libro
