Politics at Continuum

The Arctic Gold Rush

The Arctic Gold Rush: The New Race for Tomorrow's Natural Resources is a new book by Roger Howard published by Continuum.

In August 2007, a Russian submarine captured world headlines by planting a rust-free national flag on the Arctic seabed far beneath the North Pole. The aim of the expedition was to assert Russia's legal sovereignty over a region whose importance has only recently started to become apparent as its melting ice has made vast natural resources open to exploitation.

The Arctic Gold Rush is a fascinating study of the impact Arctic reserves have – and will continue to have – on the global political and environmental stages.

"Meticulous detail ... This is an excellent book of reference with a wealth of factual information." - Morning Star

For more information on this new title, visit our website at http://www.continuumbooks.com

This day in History: December 4, 1918

On December 4, 1918, President  Woodrow Wilson traveled to France to attend the Versailles peace conference. The treaty, eventually signed June 28, 1919 put an end to war between Germany and the allied power.

Continuum has published many titles about World War I, including:

 A Part of History -- a consideration of various aspects of the British experience of the war in the light of more recent historiographical trends and also a prediction of how these areas are likely to be researched and written about in the future.

Belfast Boys -- by Richard Grayson, the story of men from either side of West Belfast's sectarian divide during the Great War.

Coming Soon

Expect to see more politics titles from Continuum this December, including:

• Answering Back: Liberal Responses to Conservative Arguments by David Coates
• Conflict Resolution of the Boruca Hydro-Energy Project by Jurgen Carls and Warren Haffar
• Norman Podhoretz and Commentary Magazine: The rise and Fall of the Neocons by Nathan Abrams

And more in 2010!

Just In: Volumes 6-10 in the Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers Series

The following five volumes of the Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers have just been published:

- Edmund Burke by Dennis O'Keeffe
- Alexis de Tocqueville by Alan S. Kahan
- Michael Oakeshott by Edmund Neill
- Ayn Rand by Mimi Gladstein
- The Salamanca School by Andre A. Alves and Jose M. Moreira

The series comprises twenty volumes, including the first 5 volumes published earlier this year:

- David Hume by Christopher Berry
- John Locke by Eric Mack
- Joseph A. Schumpeter by John Medearis
- The Modern Papacy by Samuel Gregg
- Thomas Hobbes by R.E.R Bunce

Next year, we will publish the remaining ten volumes:

- Robert Nozick by Ralf Bader
- F. A. Hayek by Adam Tebble
- Karl Popper by Philip Parvin
- Murray Rothbard by Gerard Casey
- Russell Kirk by John Pafford
- James Buchanan by John Meadowcroft
- Adam Smith by James Otteson
- Ludwig von Mises by Richard Ebeling
- Milton Friedman by William Ruger
- Herbert Spencer by Alberto Mingardi

Answering Back

Answering Back: Liberal Responses to Conservative Arguments will be published by Continuum in December 09.

Written by David Coates, from Wake Forest University, Answering Back is a timely tool at a time of health care debate and upcoming elections.

The book brings together the best conservative and the best liberal arguments on eight key policy issues: trickle-down economics and the role of public spending, the desirability of welfare reform, the future of social security, the establishment of health care for all, the possibility of comprehensive immigration control, religious issues and the social agenda, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus the causes of the financial meltdown.Each chapter begins with a brief introduction, followed by conservative views and a point-by-point progressive response. The language used is deliberately jargon free, to make the material as accessible as possible. The sources of both conservative and progressive arguments (and their supporting evidence) are cited to open the door to further research.

A blog complements the book to make it a living resource: http://www.answeringbackdavidcoates.blogspot.com/

"With passion, disarming candor, and fair-minded analysis second to none, David Coates captures the pulse of American politics. Answering Back makes the best case yet for how to revitalize the Left--and outmaneuver the Right--in the political space broken open by the Obama presidency. If you are interested in the fate of American democracy and want to become a stakeholder you must read this book." --Joel Krieger, Norma Wilentz Hess professor of Political Science, Wellesley College; Editor in Chief, The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World

"Answering Back is a very timely book. It will deepen the reader's understanding of the main issues in the debates between liberals and conservatives--especially those on the far right. The book is written from a liberal perspective, but it documents both the liberal and conservative sides of the issues. It achieves one of its main objectives very well--raising the quality of these debates." -Dr. Ray Marshall, University of Texas

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Putin, and Yukos

The New York Times magazine featured an article this weekend about the trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, "the world's most problematic political prisoner," by Andrew Meier. You can access the article by visiting the New York Times website or by clicking here.

If this is a story of interest, be sure to read Continuum's upcoming book, Putin's Oil by Martin Sixsmith. (For more information on the title, please visit our website.

"All the drama of a Hollywood thriller, but this is a chilling real life story – the unfinished battle for oil and political power in Russia. This meticulously researched and vividly told story is a must read for anyone who wants to understand today’s Russia – a world where politics and big business form a deadly cocktail."
    -Angus Roxburgh, former Sunday Times Moscow correspondent and author of The Second Russian Revolution

Marketing your book: Widgets

Taking full advantage of technology and the Internet, Continuum is pleased to announce its new marketing feature: widgets that allow anyone to preview the contents of the book, including the front matter, introduction and a chapter or two.

Essentially, this takes the form a weblink that we can send to our authors for them to share with faculty, friends, students, etc. It also is becoming a feature on our website, offering browsers the possibility to review a book's contents more in details.

For an example of a preview, click here.

And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at mantoine@continuum-books.com.

Marie-Claire Antoine
Acquisitions Editor, Politics & IR

Slavoj Žižek: 20 Years of Collapse

Today's New York Times features an op-ed by Slavov Žižek about the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall. You can read the essay by clicking on the link or cutting and pasting it: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/opinion/09zizek.html?_r=2&ref=opinion

If you are interested in Žižek's works, you may want to check his selected writings published by Continuum in two volumes, The Universal Exception and Interrogating the Real.

Saudi Arabia

The AP reported today (Friday, November 6) that Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes against "infiltrators" from Yemen but limited to areas within Saudi territories. For the full article, click here.

Continuum will be publishing International Relations of the Gulf Cooperation Council States, written by Christian Koch.

The Gulf region is a key center of international politics and security, and the GCC states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) are carving out a role for themselves, not only to promote economic development, but also to develop concerted foreign policies. The book looks at the policymaking process and the role of the GCC as an international institution. Case studies highlight key regional and international relationships, e.g., with Iraq, Iran, Yemen, the US, Russia, Asia, and the EU.  

Christian Koch is Director of International Studies at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai. His unique and thorough analysis of the GCC states will be a key text for those studying Arab politics and for policymakers who need to understand the dynamics shaping the Gulf region.

In you are interested in the region, you may also want to look at these two published titles:

Arabs by Mark Allen click here to go to our website. 

Arab Media by Kai Hafez click here to go to our website. 

 

Berlusconi

  The highest court of Italy has overturned the law granting Berlusconi's immunity from corruption charges. If you  are interested in italian politics and especially the Berlusconi era, you may want to check our new title:

Resisting the Tide: Cultures of Opposition Under Berlusconi (2001-06)
edited by Daniele Albertazzi, Charlotte Ross, Clodagh Brook, and Nina Rothenberg

"This volume provides a  very valuable catalogue of the opposition to Berlusconi which has formed over the last 15 years in Italian politics, society, and the cultural and entertainment industries. Its examination is as accurate and exhaustive as it is fragmentary; exactly like the opposition itself. It is a useful contribution for helping us understand not just  that there isn't only Berlusconi in Italy, but also why his political success continues to grow." --Ilvo Diamanti, Professor of Political Science at the University of Urbino "Carlo Bo"

"The high and long-lasting tide of berlusconismo seems almost irresistible. Perhaps this is because Berlusconi really does represent large sectors of Italian society. As many of the contributors to this indispensable book document and argue, cultures of opposition in Italy are fragmented and prove unable to coalesce into serious political and parliamentary opposition. This excellent collection of essays focuses on all types of cultural, intellectual, and media resistance to the popular-populist tide." --Gianfranco Pasquino, Professor of Political Science at the University of Bologna and at the Johns Hopkins Bologna Center

Coming Soon: Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers - Volume 5 - 10

The next five of our 20-volume series, Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers will publish next month as follows:

Vol. 6     Edmund Burke (by Dennis O’Keeffe)
Vol. 7     Alexis de Tocqueville (by Alan S. Kahan)
Vol. 8     Michael Oakeshott (by Edmund Neill)
Vol. 9    The Salamanca School (by André Azevedo Alves and José Manuel Moreira)
Vol. 10.  Ayn Rand (by Mimi R. Gladstein) 

Some early feedback:

"Kahan's ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE is a small gem of a book written by one of the acknowledged masters of Tocqueville scholarship. The volume, organized in an original and elegant way around the themes of democracy and freedom, is remarkably clear and concise; yet it manages, in a brief format, to treat with insight Tocqueville's major sources, concepts and works. It is one of the best short introductions to Tocqueville's thinking and writing that we now have." James Schleifer, Emeritus Dean of the Library and Professor of History at the College of New Rochelle and has been a Visiting Lecturer at Yale University.

"An invigorating account that repeatedly places Burke in a context that is relevant for the present day. Written in an accessible style, O'Keeffe's book offers a reading that is at once academic and infused with a powerful moral strain." --Jeremy Black

For more information on the entire series, please visit our website by clicking here.

The Second Long March

Today China celebrates the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, with a grand parade, fireworks and more.

If you are interested in Chinese politics, you may want to check the following book:

The Second Long March: Struggling Against the Chinese Communists Under the Republic of China (Taiwan) Constitution
by Peter Kien-hong YU, Ming Chuan University, Taiwan, Republic of China.

"Yu deserves credit for formulating a basic theory. Few dare do this. His theory is heuristic. It makes one think. It is a useful framework for explaining Taiwan's success in democratizing, which still interests leaders of developing nations and scholars everywhere.

Yu also provides an interesting look at Taiwan's politics as he goes. He is a homegrown observer and knows the ins and outs of how the system works in principle and in practice. He adds tidbits of inside information along the way, many of which have not been cited or at least assessed by other scholars. This makes the book a more interesting read.

The Second Long March is recommended to all who want to view Taiwan's history and politics, especially its democratization, from a unique perspective. Why is this so important? Taiwan is the only non-negotiable issue between the United States and the People's Republic of China, the sole superpower and the world's foremost rising power, and the relationship between them is the basis of stability in the global economy and international politics." -- John F. Copper, Stanley J. Buckman Professor of International Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the author of more than 25 books on mainland China and Taiwan

For more details, click here.

The British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics

The British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics by David Seawright will be published in November.

"The label, One Nation, has been central to the politics of British Conservatism for nearly 150 years. Often used as code in internal conflicts or as short-hand for a complex electoral strategy, it has seldom been analysed systematically. David Seawright’s book addresses and remedies this by exploring the evolution of the concept of One Nation politics, locating it in the party’s history and demonstrating its continued importance in contemporary Conservatism. The British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics is a significant contribution to our understanding Conservative politics in Britain." --Andrew Taylor, Professor of Politics,University of Sheffield.     

"David Seawright knows his subject backwards. His book is a persuasive blend of history and social science: it demonstrates definitively that One Nation politics, far from being some kind of centrist alternative to Thatcherism, has always been a microcosm of the creative tensions that have made the Conservative Party, at its best, Britain’s natural party of government." --Tim Bale, author of The Conservative Party from Thatcher to Cameron

"David Seawight’s new book offers an important contribution to understanding the Conservative Party in Britain as it returns to centre stage.  Meticulously researched, the book sets the party into historical context focussing on the idea of One Nation.  But One Nation Conservatism discussed here is presented in a new, more sophisticated and nuanced way.  More than a scholarly work, it presents the challenges that David Cameron will have to meet, especially in the difficult economic and financial context he is likely to inherit.  This book should be read by anyone interested in where British politics is heading over the next decade" --Professor James Mitchell, Author of Conservatives and the Union

Series: International Relations for the 21st Century

International Relations for the Twenty First Century is a series of coursebooks aimed at upper-level undergraduate and graduate students.

Volumes in the series will focus on the security issues that befuddle us all in the post-Cold War and post- 9/11 era. All of the books in the series will address at least one facet of the confusing mix of security issues we face today. Authors will include scholars and practitioners.

The series is edited by Chip Hauss, Professor at George Mason University and Government Liaison for the Alliance for Peacebuilding.

Titles being considered for the series include:

- Rethinking Military Security

- New Challenges for Security

- Intervention

- Global Migration

- and more!

If you would like to contribute a volume, please contact me at mantoine@continuum-books.com

Marie-Claire Antoine
Acquisitions Editor, Politics & IR

Norman Podhoretz

Norman Podhoretz has been in the news lately, following the publication of his new book, Why Are Jews Liberal? (You can read the review from the New York Times Book Review, 9/13 by clicking here.

In November 09, Continuum will publish Norman Podhoretz and Commentary Magazine: The Rise and Fall of the Neocons, by Nathan Abrams.

In this unique scholarly work, Abrams asks what does the term “neoconservative” mean? Who are we talking about and where did they come from? Abrams answers those very questions through a detailed and critical study of neoconservatism’s leading thinker, Norman Podhoretz, and the magazine he edited for 35 years, Commentary. Podhoretz has been described as “the conductor of the neocon orchestra” and through Commentary Podhoretz powerfully shaped neoconservatism.

Rich in research, the book is based upon a wide range of sources, including archival and other material never before published in the context of Commentary magazine, including Podhoretz’s private papers.

It does not indulge in hagiography. It punctures, where necessary, the mythology that surrounds the movement and its magazine. It argues that much of what has been said about neoconservatism is the product of willful distortion and exaggeration both by the neoconservatives themselves and their many enemies.

From this unique perspective, Abrams examines the origins, rise, and fall of neoconservatism. In understanding Podhoretz, a figure often overlooked, this book sheds light on the origins, ideas, and intellectual pedigree of neoconservatism.

Nathan Abrams was educated at the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham where he graduated with a PhD in American Studies. He is currently a Senior Lecturer and Director of Graduate Studies at Bangor University in Wales.

Coming Soon: British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics

The British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics, by David Seawright, will be published in November 2009.

"The label, One Nation, has been central to the politics of British Conservatism for nearly 150 years. Often used as code in internal conflicts or as short-hand for a complex electoral strategy, it has seldom been analysed systematically. David Seawright’s book addresses and remedies this by exploring the evolution of the concept of One Nation politics, locating it in the party’s history and demonstrating its continued importance in contemporary Conservatism. The British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics is a significant contribution to our understanding Conservative politics in Britain." --Andrew Taylor, Professor of Politics,University of Sheffield.

"David Seawright knows his subject backwards. His book is a persuasive blend of history and social science: it demonstrates definitively that One Nation politics, far from being some kind of centrist alternative to Thatcherism, has always been a microcosm of the creative tensions that have made the Conservative Party, at its best, Britain’s natural party of government." --Tim Bale, author of The Conservative Party from Thatcher to Cameron

For more information on this title, visit our website at http://www.continuumbooks.com

New at Continuum: Emergency Response to Domestic Terrorism

Emergency Response to Domestic Terrorism: How Bureaucracies Reacted  to the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing by Alethia Cook, East Carolina University, will be published in November 2009.

"The 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing forced the population in the interior of the United States to recognize that the “heartlands” were not immune from a massive terrorist attack. In the period following the bombing understandable emotion often clouded an objective analysis of how the authorities responded to the tragedy. Alethia H. Cook has  taken advantage of the passage of time to develop an excellent analytical framework and an impressive empirical approach largely based on interviews to provide an important anatomy of the crucial first twelve hours after a major terrorist incident.

Emergency Response to Domestic Terrorism should be required reading for policy makers, organizations and  operational personnel that are responsible for responding to terrorists attacks and other major catastrophes. It should also be an essential part of any scholar or student who is involved in the increasingly vital and growing field of emergency management."

-- Stephen Sloan, Lawrence J. Chastang Distinguished Professor of Terrorism Studies, Office of Global Perspectives, The University of Central Florida; Professor Emeritus, The University of Oklahoma

New Series: Continuum Intelligence Studies

Continuum is launching a new series, called Continuum Intelligence Studies.

The aim of the series is to present new research to enhance both the study and practice of intelligence.

The volumes cover theory, concepts, teaching methods, new research, methodologies, best practices, and more across all fields of intelligence studies. The focus is on contemporary issues and new research.

Composed of coursebooks, monographs, practical guides, and reference works written by scholars and experts, the series is geared toward students in intelligence and security studies, as well as intelligence practitioners.

The first volume to be published will be a textbook called Sociocultural Intelligence: A New Discipline In Intelligence Studies by Kerry Patton. This unique text offers an in-depth examination of sociocultural intelligence (SOCINT), a discipline that proposes using the social sciences to gain a systematic understanding of the customs, moral attitudes, and cultures of foreign populations in order to enhance the efficacy of national security initiatives. 

There are  more volumes in the works, too! If you are interested in contributing to the series, please contact me at mantoine@continuum-books.com.

Looking forward to it!

Marie-Claire Antoine
Acquisitions Editor, Politics & International Relations

Political Economy of Southeast Europe from 1990 to the Present

Political Economy of Southeast Europe from 1990 to the Present by Bruno Sergi and Qerim Qerimi was reviewed in the Italian Cultura & Società:

"[The book] is about the troubled history of the Balkan peninsula, with specific reference to the Kosovar secession, all dealt with great mastery and wisdom. A journey through ten chapters and 180 pages that are very accessible thanks to a writing style that is both analytical and descriptive. A useful study both for university students and the general public."  --Giuseppe Leanza

Adam Smith

James Otteson, author of our upcoming book, Adam Smith, was quoted in an article from Investor's Business Daily. You can read the article at http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=483382.

Adam Smith is a volume in our Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers series, which will be published in September 10. For more information, you can visit our website at http://www.continuumbooks.com/books/detail.aspx?BookId=130995&SearchType=Basic