Politics at Continuum

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.

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 10 craziest things ever said During a UN Speech

"Were Kennedy not a millionaire, illiterate, and ignorant, then he would obviously understand that you cannot revolt against the peasants.'' -- Fidel Castro

Following the UN's recent General Assembly, Foreign Policy has culled the 10 craziest things said in a UN speech over the last sixty years. You can read them all by clickling on the link to their site at http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/09/24/the_top_10_craziest_things_ever_said_during_a_un_speech

May Day

The International Workers' Day dips its roots into the 19th century American labor movement, and more particularly the the Chicago strike (May 1 1886) and Haymarket Massacre (May 4 1886). One of the key revendications was the 8-hour work day.

A good book to read on May Day is Darrow Schecter's History of the Left from Marx to the Present: Theoretical Perspectives (Continuum, 2007).

For more information on this title, visit our website by clicking here.

William Shakespeare

Today we honor the death and presumed birthday date of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). What does Shakespeare has to do with politics? Well, to find out, browse through Continuum's new reference work:

Shakespeare's Political and Economic Language: A Dictionary by Vivian Thomas.

The dictionary is an A-Z reference guide to political and economic terms, concepts and references in Shakespeare.

This day in History

In 1926, The Chinese Nationalist forces, led by Chiang Kai-shek, arrive at Hankou which then becomes the capital of the Kuomintang.

I am developing several books on Chinese politics, and you might be interested in the following:

The Second Long March
Struggling Against the Chinese Communists Under the Republic of China (Taiwan) Constitution
by Peter Kien-Hong Yu
This work, This work, written by an expert in the politics of Mainland China and Taiwan, looks at the role the Constitution of the Republic of China has played in the development of Taiwan since 1949 and its potential influence on the People's Republic of China.
To be published: March 2009

China Against the Tides
Restructuring through Revolution, Radicalism and Reform, 3rd Edition
by Marc Blecher
An interdisciplinary look at the politics of China from the imperial collapse to the present.
To be published: October 2009

And also,
The Dragon's Will
The Exercise and Limitation of China's Power from Pyongyang to Khartoum
by Jing-Dong Yuan

Governance in Pacific Asia
by Peter Ferdinand

This day in History

November 19, 1977  -- Anwar Sadat, then President of Egypt, is the first Arab leader to visit Israel.

For an analysis of the Arab world, you may want to check Arabs by Mark Allen.
 
“In Arabs, Mark Allen has written a gem of a book…. In addition to his analytical expertise, Allen’s skills as an avid and accomplished falconer provided him a window onto Arab culture and societal values like no other…. Using anecdote and analysis, Allen reduces much of the confusion and misunderstanding that so frequently burden attempts by Westerners to fathom the nuance-laced interactions between cultures and societies.”- John Duke Anthony, Middle East Journal, Vol. 61 No. 2 Spring 2007

For more details, please click here to visit our website.

This Day in History: October 22, 1962

October 22, 1962 President John F. Kennedy announces an air and naval blockade of Cuba after the discovery of Soviet missile installation on the island.

The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Threat of Nuclear War: Lessons from History by Len Scott  details the Cuban Missile Crisis in light of new research and draws parallels with political and military decisions in the present climate.

Published in March 2008 by Continuum, the book has earned praise:

"chilling testimony to the high risk of future nuclear catastrophe."
-- John Moore in Morning Star, 2008

"Scott follows the crisis and its possible outcomes from every point of view."
-- Michael Simmons in History Today, 2008

"An impressive work by a leading political scientist...masterly"

-- Jeremy Black, The Historical Association, 2008.

"Written by Len Scott, an authoritative voice within the field of international politics and history, this thorough research into the crisis examines the actions from all sides of the conflict... Scott--  has produced an insightful, entertaining and comprehensive account of many facets surrounding the crisis...this book should be enjoyed by all."

-- Stuart Lee in Birmingham Post, 2008

You can read more about the books on our website by clicking here.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

This day in History: October 14, 1964 -- Martin Luther King, Jr. wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

You can now access the FBI's complete files on Martin Luther King, Jr. at http://www.thememoryhole.org/

Also, for a look at the tumultuous history of the 60s in the United States, including the Civil Rights Movement, you may want to check Klaus P. Fischer's  America in White, Black, and Gray: A History of the Stormy 1960s.
 

This day in History

July 2, 1964
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act into.
 

For a look at the turbulent 60's, check out Continuum's America in White, Black, and Gray by Klaus P. Fischer.

"This is a rare work that weaves scholarly, historical analysis with personal perspective and storytelling of the turbulent 1960s." --The Historian

Click here for more information.